The Latest on jail death: Family seeking more information
By Associated Press
Aug 4, 2015 10:46 AM CDT

HOUSTON (AP) — The latest on the death of Sandra Bland, who was found dead in a Texas jail cell last month (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

The attorney for the family of a black motorist who died while in custody in Texas says they need additional information from authorities in Waller County before they can complete their independent medical examination.

Cannon Lambert, the attorney for the family of Sandra Bland, spoke Tuesday at a news conference in Houston to announce the filing of a lawsuit against the Waller County sheriff's office and others. He said they are still waiting on many items from authorities regarding Bland's July 13 death in her jail cell, which authorities have said was a suicide by hanging.

He said, "We don't have the gastric content information. We don't have the ligature. We don't have the police reports. Candidly, we don't really know the time of death."

He said they also need to know what was done to try to help her.

Lambert added, "We don't even know all of the players involved. We don't know what the police reports reflect. We are getting bits and pieces of the toxicology report. We don't get the full toxicology report."

Since her death, authorities have released the findings of Bland's autopsy, her arrest affidavit, an initial toxicology report, surveillance video showing her in the jail, her jail intake records and the dash camera video of her traffic stop, which resulted in her arrest.

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10 a.m.

The family of a black motorist who died while in custody says they've filed a lawsuit against a Texas sheriff's office and others because they still haven't received enough answers from authorities.

The family of Sandra Bland held a news conference Tuesday in Houston announcing the wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of the 28-year-old woman, who an autopsy found died by suicide in the Waller County jail July 13.

Cannon Lambert, an attorney for the Chicago-area family, says the suit is meant to hold authorities accountable and compel them to provide more answers. Authorities have said Bland hanged herself in her cell, but the family disputes the finding.

Authorities have released findings of an autopsy, surveillance video showing Bland being booked into the jail July 10, her jail intake records and other material.

But her family says more information is needed, such as full toxicology results and her time of death.

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9:45 a.m.

The family of a black woman found dead in a Texas county jail three days after a confrontation with a white state trooper says it has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer and other officials.

Attorney Cannon Lambert says Sandra Bland's family filed the lawsuit Tuesday seeking answers the family hasn't gotten.

It names the Texas Department of Public Safety, Waller County, the sheriff's office, two jailers, and the trooper Brian Encinia. The lawsuit filed It seeks a jury trial for unspecified damages.

Officials say the 28-year-old Bland hanged herself in her cell on July 13.

She was in Prairie View, northwest of Houston July 10 when she was stopped for a minor traffic infraction. Her exchange with Encinia escalated, and he handcuffed her. Her family says she wouldn't take her own life.

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9:15 a.m.

An attorney for the family of a black woman found dead in a Texas county jail three days after a confrontation with a white state trooper says a lawsuit has been filed against the officer and other officials.

Attorney Cannon Lambert says Sandra Bland's family has filed a lawsuit Tuesday. He says it names the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia, the Waller County sheriff's office and two jailers. He says the suit is seeking answers that the family hasn't gotten.

Officials say the 28-year-old Bland hanged herself in her cell on July 13.

She was in Prairie View, northwest of Houston July 10 when she was stopped for a minor traffic infraction. Her exchange with Encinia escalated, and he handcuffed her. Her family says she wouldn't take her own life.

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This story has been corrected to show the suit was filed against the sheriff's office, not the sheriff.

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8 a.m.

An attorney for the family of a black woman found dead in a Texas county jail three days after a confrontation with a white state trooper says a lawsuit will be filed against the trooper.

Attorney Cannon Lambert says Sandra Bland's family plans to file the federal lawsuit Tuesday in Houston. He says it will name Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia and others.

Officials say the 28-year-old Bland hanged herself in her cell on July 13.

She was in Prairie View, 50 miles northwest of Houston, for a job interview July 10 when she was stopped for a minor traffic infraction. Her exchange with Encinia escalated, who handcuffed her and pinned her to the ground.

Her family says was looking forward to a new job and wouldn't take her own life.