Del Valle, Texas
August 17, 2015
Agencies: Texas Commission on Jail Standards | Texas Jail Project | Travis County Correctional Complex TCCC
Cause of death: Not Yet Known
Last updated: over 3 years ago
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office says 40-year-old Athena Covarrubias was found in the shower unresponsive at 8:57 a.m. Aug. 17.
Covarrubias had been in custody since her arrest on Aug. 5. She was originally arrested on three warrants out of Williamson County.
So far, the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit has not found any evidence of foul play. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the cause of death as suicide by hanging. They say Covarrubias was found hanging from a shower curtain rod with what appeared to be a bed sheet.
Muncrief says Covarrubias struggled with mental health issues, and that last year tried taking her life in the Williamson County Jail.
She and family members want to know how this happened.
“I have a lot of questions and I have yet to get answers, and I really feel like this could have been prevented,” said Muncrief. “Why was she not getting the medical attention that she needed?”
Muncrief believes one suicide should be enough to cause change in the criminal justice system, and that 30 is unacceptable.
“I’m not going to stop until I get the answers I feel I need to hear,” said Muncrief.
She hopes change will happen, but wishes it wasn’t at the expense of the person she loved.
Family member will hold a benefit for Athena on Thursday at 6202 Marygold Terrace from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They have also set up a GoFundMe page.