Grieving family wants to know why Oklahoma Co. Jail is seeing spike in inmate deaths
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A grieving family is pressing Oklahoma County Jail leadership for answers as the jail has hit the same number of inmate deaths this month it saw all of last year.
On May 12, jail officials shared in a news release that 26-year-old Mario Mason was found unresponsive in his cell during a welfare check that evening. Mason was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead the same evening.
Mason was awaiting transfer to state prison after being sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder on April 24. He was first booked into jail in May of 2024.
Mason's family held a news conference outside of the jail on Wednesday, saying they had to find out over social media that he had died. They said they were told he committed suicide, but that he hadn't shown any suicidal tendencies.
"Finding out that my baby was gone, that's the hardest part," said Cicely Mason, Mario's mother. "I just want to know why, and they can't even give me that."
News 4 asked Mason's mother directly if she thought the jail values the lives they're responsible for.
"No, they do not," said Cicely Mason.
She and some of Mario's other family members went inside of the jail unannounced Wednesday, in hopes of getting answers to their questions, refusing to leave until someone met with them. Interim CEO of the jail Paul Timmons eventually came out to talk to them. Timmons has only been in the role since February.
A several minute long back and forth exchange between Timmons and the Mason family followed. Timmons agreed to meet with Cicely Mason Thursday morning to discuss sensitive details further.
A News 4 employee had already scheduled time to sit down with Timmons Tuesday to sit down on Wednesday and talk about the spike in deaths in 2025. It's important to note that interview was scheduled before Timmons or News 4 knew about the Mason family's intentions to come to the jail.
News 4 pressed Timmons about whether or not he is concerned about all of the lives lost in 2025.
"Oh, absolutely," said Timmons. "Absolutely. You know, the deaths that we've had here affect me as much as anybody."
Timmons says he can't say anything specifically about the deaths, but there are some things, even with protocols, assessments, medical and jail staff, you just can't control. News 4 asked him what he would say to family members who don't feel like that's enough.
"I extend my condolences to those families because it affects me as well," said Timmons. "You know, I mean, we're working through the process. And any time we have a serious incident up here, we always have a roundtable about it, my staff and I, and we look at the process that we have in place, you know, see what we get right, to see what we could do better."
Timmons says it's no secret that staffing shortages and low pay haven't helped matters, limiting resources.
We also asked Timmons if he's fearful on if the federal government could step in and take control of jail operations in the wake of ongoing issues News 4 has reported on over the years.
"All I can worry about is what's in front of me and try to work on the issues that we have here currently, and that's my focus, is trying to make the facility here the best possible and I possibly can," said Timmons.
The seven inmates' deaths this year are as follows:
- January 8: Vincent Burke, booked January 7, 2025 - unknown, under investigation
- January 18: Vincent Riggie, booked November 4, 2024 - unknown, under investigation
- March 3: Michelle Young, booked February 13, 2025 - unknown, under investigation
- April 18: Kasey Ball, booked March 7, 2025 - Possible suicide
- April 25: Clinton Pike, booked February 21, 2025 - fight/homicide
- April 26: Rachel Nalley, booked April 21, 2025 - unknown, under investigation
- May 12: Mario Mason, booked May 23, 2024 - unknown, under investigation