21-year-old Texas inmate found hanging from shower nearly one day after arrest

>>Click to see how inmates died in Texas prisons over the past year. Carlos Jose Hernandez Jr., 21, of Troup, Texas, was found hanging in his cell. >>Click to see how inmates died in Texas prisons over the past year. Carlos Jose Hernandez Jr., 21, of Troup, Texas, was found hanging in his cell. Photo: Smith County Jail Photo: Smith County Jail Image 1 of / 62 Caption Close 21-year-old Texas inmate found hanging from shower nearly one day after arrest 1 / 62 Back to Gallery

The Texas Rangers are investigating after a 21-year-old inmate was found "hanging from the shower from a ligature" in a side cell one day after being booked on drug charges.

Carlos Jose Hernandez, Jr. died early Monday, around midnight, in Tyler, Texas. He was booked in the Smith County Jail early Sunday morning for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

His bail totaled $8,500, but he could not be released due to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer, according to a statement released by the Smith County Sheriff's Office.

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Hernandez was placed in a side cell on suicide watch as a result of the responses he offered police when he was booked. According to the sheriff's office, observation logs and video footage show that police checked on him in 10-minute intervals.

He was reportedly checked at 12:11 a.m. and seen sleeping. At 12:20 a.m., he was allegedly found hanging.

His body was transported for an autopsy at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science (Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office) in Dallas.

Hernandez had previously been incarcerated in the Smith County Jail on two occasions. In December 2016 he was arrested for criminal trespass and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and held for three days. On Feb. 18, 2017 he was arrested and held for one day for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a prohibited weapon.