Family files suit against Galveston County year after son's in-custody death

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- One year ago Diane and Jesse Jacobs lost their son.

"He was our life. He was our only child. He was our life," said Diane Jacobs, Jesse Jacob's mother.

Jesse Jacobs, 32, went to the Galveston County jail to serve out a 12-day jail sentence.

He was prescribed a generic version of Xanax for anxiety his mother remembers him taking it as he turned himself in.

"He said, 'Mom, I'm going to take my medication now,' and said, 'I'll see you on the other side.' That's the last time I saw him," said Diane Jacobs.

The Jacobs say the jail never gave Jesse his medication. A week later, he had seizures and died. The family filed a lawsuit against the sheriff's office on Monday, the anniversary of his death. It says if Jacobs had been given his medication he would not have died. The suit is seeking $25 million in damages.

Last summer we talked to the Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset. He told us whatever the internal doctors prescribe is what Jacobs was given. Trochesset also told us last summer that some inmates take medications they shouldn't but he didn't elaborate on whether Xanax fell under that.

On Monday we called the sheriff and he declined to comment pending ongoing litigation. He did say the jail contracts with a third-party medical provider.

The family hopes the lawsuit brings some change.

"This shouldn't have happened and more importantly we want to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else. I don't want to see someone else lose a child or a parent," said Jesse Jacobs, his father.

A prosecutor with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office told us they are reviewing the 140-page suit and were not ready to comment at this time.