Three Shelby County jailers charged with manslaughter after a man in mental crisis died
Jamie Perry, 49, died in the Shelby County Jail on July 19, 2026, a day after he was taken into custody during a mental health episode. Records show he was found restrained in a chair; his family says he was restrained for hours and that they urged Deputy Angela Neal to take him to a hospital first. After a Texas Ranger investigation and a special grand jury, jailers Jayne Scharnberg, Phillip Youngblood Jr. and Andrew Valadez were charged on Aug. 24 with manslaughter, violation of the civil rights of a person in custody, tampering with a government record and official oppression. Neal was charged with aggravated perjury, tampering with a government document and official oppression. All four pleaded not guilty. Perry's family has sued to remove Sheriff Gerald Corbell and Chief Deputy Mike Hanson, alleging official misconduct and incompetence. The Sheriff's Office has not responded to that suit publicly.
This follows a Texas Ranger investigation led by Ranger Jim Hicks into the death of Perry while in custody at the Shelby County Jail and a special grand jury that was held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Perry's family two weeks ago filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Shelby County Sheriff Gerald Corbell and Chief Deputy Mike Hanson from office, alleging official misconduct and incompetence.
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