SAN ANTONIO – A federal judge’s blunt assessment of a Bexar County Jail inmate’s condition is drawing attention to the medical care the man received while in custody.
“He looks like a Holocaust survivor. I mean, help me understand what went on here,” said United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez during a July 30 hearing, court transcripts obtained by KSAT Investigates show.
The judge was referring to a photograph of Alfredo Escamilla, who is suing Bexar County and the University Health System after his health deteriorated while he was held in custody at the Bexar County Jail from August 2023 to July 2024.
Escamilla had his right leg amputated after developing a serious infection.
Inmate’s health deteriorated while in custody
Escamilla was booked into the Bexar County Jail in August 2023 on charges of assault of a peace officer and assault of a public servant.
According to court records, his health deteriorated during his time in custody, culminating in a medical emergency in July 2024.
Escamilla was found “down in his jail cell” and suffering from septic shock, the suit states.
Doctors discovered a serious infection, and Escamilla underwent surgery to amputate his right leg at the knee.
Weeks later, in August 2024, Escamilla underwent an above-knee amputation revision surgery, a procedure to reshape what remained of his limb, as well as a skin graft, records show.
The suit, filed in federal court in late April against Bexar County and the University Health System, states medical staff at the jail had repeatedly noted Escamilla’s refusals of care while he was in custody.
According to the suit, however, staff were aware Escamilla suffered from a serious mental illness and failed to “seek psychiatric evaluation, surrogate decision-making, or court-ordered treatment to override these medically dangerous refusals.”
The suit also claims jail medical staff failed to adequately respond to Escamilla’s worsening condition and made a “conscious choice to allow preventable harm to occur.”
The suit seeks at least $5 million in damages.
‘Help me understand what went on here’
The severity of Escamilla’s condition drew pointed questions from Judge Rodriguez during a hearing in late July on a motion to dismiss the case.
During the hearing, Judge Rodriguez referenced a photograph included in Escamilla’s court filings showing him in a hospital bed and then made the Holocaust comment, a transcript of the hearing shows.
The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews and millions of other victims by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II.
The judge’s comment came as attorneys argued over whether Escamilla’s claims against the defendants should be allowed to proceed.
The lawsuit remains ongoing.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar declined to comment to KSAT about the pending litigation.
University Health officials also declined to comment, citing the ongoing case.
Records show both criminal charges filed against Escamilla were dismissed July 31, 2024, a day after his first leg amputation surgery.
A third charge filed against Escamilla was removed due to it being entered in error, records show.
Escamilla did not respond to a request from KSAT left at his last listed address.
His listed attorneys did not respond to phone calls from KSAT seeking comment for this story.
