TEXAS — According to one family, it took eight days for them to find out their loved one was transferred from the Bell County Jail to the hospital due to COVID-19.

The family quickly learned they are not the only ones with major concerns about how the jail responds to the virus. 

Diamond Tucker will never forget what happened to her aunt Indrel Green. Last month, Green was an inmate at the Bell County Loop Jail. Now, she is no longer alive. 

Tucker said it was another inmate, not the jail, who notified the family on Aug. 24 that Green was in the hospital on a ventilator fighting COVID-19. 

"They [the inmates] did say she wasn't able to get the medicine, the ibuprofens and the Gatorades, the COVID pack that they call in jail," Tucker shared.  

When the family reached out to Bell County, she said they were told Green had been released. 

"The jail said she had been released, she left. And I was like, 'She left?' So I hopped on the Bell County website and I had, you know, looked for her name. Her name was nowhere to be found," Tucker said.  

Tucker said the family later discovered that Green was rushed to the hospital on Aug. 16 and at some point after she was admitted, she was released on a PR bond. She said the family was not notified.

"They didn't want any decisions based on her medical health to be in their hands, so in order to put it in our hands, they released her from jail," Tucker said. "But like I said, we never knew of any medical decision because we were never contacted. Justice needs to be served and I know my aunt isn't the only one going through this," Tucker said. 

Inmate Candice Jones begged from behind bars for someone to listen. 

"We're exposed. We have an individual laying in the bed right now with COVID-19," Jones said. "Have to keep reminding her, please put your mask on, please put your mask on because you're exposing us." 

Jones was concerned about how she and other inmates were treated at the Bell County Central Jail.  

Soon after our interview, she tested positive for the virus and ended up in the hospital herself. Her loved ones said she also got released on a PR bond. Jones' boyfriend, Matthew Shelton, believes not enough is being done to protect the inmates.  

"My biggest prayer is that, you know, Bell County gets wind of this and you know, realizes that they're, you know, these inmates are humans and they need to do something," Shelton said. 

Tucker said no one should end up like her aunt. 

"The last time I seen her, about three years ago, she was alive and she came back dead," Tucker said. 

The family said they are using this GoFundMe Page* to help pay for funeral expenses. 

Spectrum News 1 did reach out requesting more information about COVID procedures at the jail. 

Bell County Jail sent the following statement: 

Bell County and its Sheriff’s Department cannot comment on the medical condition of, or treatment provided to, specific inmates or detainees. However, the Bell County Sheriff’s Department at all times strives to comply with applicable jail standards and its obligation to provide medical care to inmates and detainees within the realities of the jail setting. Measures have been taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including management of the population at the County’s jail facilities, providing masks, COVID testing of inmates and staff, and extensive disinfection measures. The department has also coordinated with the Local Health Department to provide vaccination to staff and inmates and detainees. 

[As of Sept. 15], the Bell County Sheriff’s Department has 1191 in custody with 15 of those who have tested positive.  

When we asked in general if the Bell County Jail has to transfer an inmate to the hospital, whose responsibility it is to let the family know, we received this answer:

Information about specific medical measures taken that might be associated with particular inmates is protected by privacy laws.  

It is also a concern in regards to the safety and security of staff.

*This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Spectrum News. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit gofundme.com/safety.