Rosenberg inmate's family believes he was involved in scuffle before death
ROSENBERG, TX (KTRK) -- There are new accusations in a Rosenberg man's death behind bars. We first reported on Joseph Gunter last week when police say he killed himself in jail. Now his family is questioning if his death wasn't suicide.
Family wants answers after father found dead in jail
Today in a court house news conference, Gunter's family was joined by activist Quannel X who said a jail eyewitness has come forward to allege a scuffle between Gunter and a Rosenberg jailer before the 33-year-old was found dead.
Rosenberg police say they discovered Gunter dead of an apparent suicide inside his city jail cell Last Monday.
He'd allegedly hanged himself with his own belt.
Erica Reyes, Gunter's ex-wife told abc13,"Joe didn't do this to himself."
Gunter's family claims a fellow inmate inside the Rosenberg City jail has come forward to them detailing a scuffle between a Rosenberg officer and Gunter before he was found dead.
Quannel X says it started after Gunter repeatedly tried to get the jailer's attention due to an illness.
"He kept pushing and pushing the call button. The jailers were irritated. The inmate told the family they took Joe out of the cell," Quannel X told abc13, adding Gunter's fellow inmate says he heard the jailer cuss at Gunter before taking him out of view.
The development came after a meeting between Gunter's family, the Rosenberg Police Department, Texas Rangers and Fort Bend District Attorney John Healey who is investigating the death.
The family admits they did not raise the scuffle issue during the meeting -- only to the media afterwards.
Rosenberg Chief Dallis Warren was at the meeting, but did not comment afterwards.
DA Healey was not aware of the specific scuffle allegations but promised to conduct a wide investigation.
Fort Bend County District Attorney Healey told us, "From the Rosenberg police, it was a suicide, but I will keep an open mind. You have to approach it that way."
Quannel X told a news conference, "We haven't used the word murder...we don't think he killed himself."
The inmate eyewitness who approached the family has not come forward to authorities yet.
The family claims he wants protection from retaliation.
Rosenberg police did not respond to several calls this afternoon seeking a response on the scuffle allegations.
