Family searching for answers after Bastrop custody death

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) – The family of 36-year-old Marsha Hernandez has been left baffled and grasping for answers, after the wife and mother of three died in Bastrop County custody in early April.

Hernandez, of Smithville, had just begun serving a six-month jail sentence as part of a plea agreement to resolve a 2021 possession of controlled substance charge. On April 9, just days into the jail term, something went wrong.

The cause of Hernandez’s death remains unclear, as the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office and state law enforcement continue their work on the case.

Hernandez’s mother, Kimberly Reeves, said her daughter was “crying for help” before she died, and Bastrop County didn’t listen.

Kimberly Reeves described her daughter as caring, loving and a woman who “lived for” her kids. Her death has gutted their family, and the lack of answers from Bastrop County has exacerbated the pain, she said.

“The children are beside themselves,” she said.

Hernandez’s father, Bryon Reeves, acknowledged his daughter had longstanding medical issues. She had undergone multiple surgeries for spinal issues, he said. But, when she went into Bastrop custody, there was nothing imminent or terminal, he said.

“It's just senseless that this girl, my daughter, should be in a situation where in fact they should have been helping her,” Bryon said.

Marsha “always looked out for everybody else,” Bryon said. “She would bring the good out in people.”

Hernandez’s family started a GoFundMe page to assist with the funeral and service.

Official report

County officials have released few details about the circumstances of Hernandez's death. The details that are available come from a custodial death report filed with the Office of Attorney General.

At about 11 a.m., April 9, a Bastrop County investigator was called to a single cell that Hernandez was inside. In the room there were EMS, fire department and jail personnel “attempting lifesaving efforts,” according to the death report.

At 11:25 a.m. the team stopped their attempts to resuscitate Hernandez and she was pronounced dead.

On Monday, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office said it could not respond by KXAN's deadline, but it also had no new updates on the case.

The Texas Rangers are investigating, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“As this is an active and ongoing investigation, no further information is currently available,” DPS said in a statement to KXAN in late May.

KXAN has requested jail video and body-worn camera footage of the incident from Bastrop County, but county officials are seeking to block the request. In a letter to the Office of Attorney General, Bastrop County has asked to withhold the records and said releasing them could interfere with an open investigation.

“The Sheriff believes that releasing information obtained during an investigation would hinder the ability of the Texas Rangers to verify facts that are not generally known by the public,” according to Bastrop County’s letter to the OAG.

KXAN has also requested Marsha Reeves’ autopsy from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. The request remains pending.