Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley

PECOS, TEXAS -- A Rio Grande Valley family continues to search for justice after their nephew died while serving time in a private West Texas prison.

Jose Manuel Falcon was two months shy of his release from the Pecos prison when he died.

The 32-year-old died Thursday, March 12, at the Reeve County Detention Center.

Falcon spent five years there.

Family members called it a harsh sentence for being caught illegally in the U.S. without papers.

They claim corruption at the prison ultimately took his life.

Falcon's aunt said they cut him and they removed his eyes; his legs were bruised and his body was mutilated.

"It was horrible," she said.

According to former Willacy County District Attorney, Juan Guerra, an inmate is five times more likely to die in a private prison than in a government prison.

Guerra is representing the Falcons.

Since 2001, Guerra has made it his mission to investigate what he calls injustices at private prisons.

Currently, he represents roughly 250 inmates, and he claims he's been denied access numerous times to visit with his clients.

"Private prisons are out there to make money.  They have very few guards, they're treated inhumane.  In my opinion, the meals are just ridiculous and the medical attention is just not adequate." said Guerra.

The exact cause of death is listed as suicide.

But Falcon's family vowed to continue investigating his death.

They will make their trip to Pecos next week and place 160 homemade crosses in the prison's front lawn, which represent inmates who have died in private prisons this year.