Ellis County, Texas – A 28-year-old detention officer with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office was found dead on Monday after an alleged attack by an inmate while he was returning the inmate to his cell.
During a news conference, Sheriff Brad Norman revealed that Officer Isaiah Bias was killed in the alleged attack, calling it a “pure evil” act.
Bias had been a dedicated detention officer with over six years of service to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. He was attacked by 45-year-old suspect Aaron Thompson, who had a history of violent behavior.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Thompson punched Bias, knocking him to the ground, and then began choking and hitting him in the head with his fists, knees, and feet. He then sat down at a nearby table, leaving Bias in a “large pool of blood.”
Thompson was charged with capital murder and was being held at the county jail with a bond set at $2 million. Norman did not disclose the details of how Bias was killed, but described the attack as “a heinous, horrific, purposeful murder that was senseless and not needed.”
Norman has recommended the death penalty for Thompson and believes it is the most appropriate punishment for his actions. The Texas Rangers have taken over the murder investigation.
Bias was described by the sheriff as a “very family-oriented person” who had just become an uncle a week before his death. He had been a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the law enforcement community, with a strong passion for his work.
The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the community, with many paying tribute to his memory and expressing their condolences to his family.