Javonte Lakendrick Myers

Photograph of Javonte Myers, obtained from the Star-Telegram.

On June 19th, 2020 and at only 28 years old, Javonte Lakendrick Myers passed away from a seizure while incarcerated at Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas. He is survived by his mother, Sondrea Miller, and his step father, Paul Miller. 

In an interview for the Star-Telegram, Sondrea describes Javonte as her “best friend” and “a mama’s boy who wanted to make sure she was cared for.” According to Sondrea, his seizures started in 2018 and he was routinely hospitalized. Staff members at Tarrant County Jail were aware of his health conditions but failed to take proper precautions. 

“You have human lives behind bars, you still have to make sure they’re okay,” his step father said. 

At the time of his passing, Javonte was one of three people who died that weekend at the jail. In May 2020, Tarrant County Jail’s state certification was revoked for a mere six days after a resident’s suicide revealed that guards were not preforming routine cell checks, which undoubtedly contributed to Javonte’s death. Currently, Tarrant County Jail is at the center of protests surrounding the blatant neglect of the people incarcerated there. At a protest following Javonte’s death, people held signs from the roof of their cars that read, “Remember Javonte Myers.” 

Photograph of car at protest, obtained from the Star-Telegram.

He will be missed dearly by those who knew him. 

This memorial was written by MOL team member Melissa Kornfeld with information from reporting by Nichole Manna of the Star-Telegram, Michael Barajas of The Texas Observer, and Jack Howland of the Star -Telegram.