HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — A 64-year-old man who received what may be Hardin County's longest sentence ever for committing sex crimes against children has died in jail before he could start his prison sentence.
Ronnie Lee Gordon, 64, died Tuesday afternoon in the Hardin County Jail after having a "medical emergency" according to Sheriff Mark Davis.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The above video first aired on January 17, 2023.)
Gordon died at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon after going into cardiac arrest at the jail Davis said.
Jail staff and paramedics worked on him and performed CPR but were unable to save him according to Davis.
The Texas Rangers will be investigating as they do with any in-custody death and the sheriff's office will be conducting its own investigation Davis told 12News.
Gordon was still being held in the jail prior to being transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to begin his life sentence plus 160 years.
He was sentenced by Judge Steve Thomas after a Hardin County jury found him guilty on Friday, January 13, 2023.
Gordon was found guilty on all of the 10 charges he faced related to sexually abusing two children who are now adults.
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