Nikolas Cruz's life behind bars: Teenage gunman is 'smiling and laughing' in jail where he has a cell to himself, is considered polite and well-groomed but struggles to sleep and has asked for a bible to read at night

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Details of Nikolas Cruz's life behind bars have been revealed for the first time since he was jailed on February 14. 

According to new court documents, the teenage gunman is laughing and giggling at Broward County Jail in Parkland, Florida, where he has a cell to himself and is considered polite and well-groomed by guards.

On one occasion, he has asked for a bible to read at night after struggling to get to sleep. 

He has been visited by one, unidentified family member but other than that person his only visitors have been doctors and his public defenders. 

At first, Cruz was in a cell in the infirmary. He was later moved to his own cell because of the high profile nature of his crime.

The details emerged on Wednesday as a grand jury in Fort Lauderdale indicted him on 17 capital murder charges. 

If convicted, he will be could be sentenced do death. 

Cruz's public defenders say he will plead guilty to the charges and 17 counts of attempted murder for those he injured but only if the death penalty is taken off the table. 

Nikolas Cruz (seen above in an RTCO pictured taken before he left school) has been quiet in jail and is considered well-groomed, responsive and engaged 

The records from Broward County Jail begin on February 17, three days after the massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School. On that day, police noted that he was in a single cell in the infirmary. He showered at 1pm and ate his entire meal. 

The next morning, he shunned breakfast and drank juice instead. A deputy described him lying on his back, staring at the ceiling and being 'calm'. 

During an interview that day with a doctor, another deputy took notes and said he was 'responsive'. 

On February 19, he was labeled 'cooperative' by guards who said he would do what they asked of him. 

They described him as being 'well-groomed' with a 'quiet demeanor'. 

'He follows commands and talks softly,' said one deputy. Another said he appears to 'stare blankly' and often looks like he is lost in thought. 

Others remarked that he was 'in bed frequently but does not appear to sleep' and one deputy described his speech as 'slow and slurred'. On February 20, he 'broke out in laughter' after an evening visit from an unknown person.  

Cruz's behavior was detailed in logs kept by his prison guards (shown above). Their many observations vary but most paint him as a quiet inmate who speaks only when spoken to, who keeps good hygiene but who struggles to sleep and isn't always hungry 

Cruz has his own cell at the Broward County Jail (above). Guards there have described him as 'well-groomed' and 'responsive' 

The following day, deputies said he appeared 'restless at night' and 'ate little of his food'. 

Later that week, he ate 'most' of his breakfast, a dish of 4 slices of bread, 1 apple, 1 jelly, 1 peanut butter cookies, 1 bag of cookies, juice.

On February 21, deputies gave the following description of his behavior. 

'Seems coherent. Minimal interaction during shift.'  Another said: 'Ate very little of his food ... slept most of the time. 

'However, appeared restless for part of night.' 

On the same day, another deputy said he 'avoided eye contact'. 

'Inmate nods his head as a response initially but uses normal speech when prompted,' they noted.

Kimberly and James Snead are pictured leaving court in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday after testifying in front of the grand jury which later indicted Cruz, who they allowed to live with him after his mother died, on 17 capital murder charges

The 19-year-old is struggling to sleep in his bunk and often 'tosses and turns' at night. He is pictured in a social media picture taken before the massacre

Cruz does not speak to other inmates, from whom he is separated, but is cooperative with the guards and is responsive with his lawyers and doctors. He is pictured with his public defender Melissa McNeill

Cruz is also being represented by Jodie Woodward, a British barrister who is volunteering at the district attorney's office

On February 23, he refused to come out of his cell for recreational time but was observed 'laughing and giggling' with his lawyers. 

After being unable to sleep for several nights in a row, Cruz (above in a social media picture) asked for a bible to read on February 24

Many described him being unable to sleep at night and 'twisting and turning' in his bunk. 

One deputy wrote in their description: 'Twists and turns in bunk, does not sleep, stares at wall in deep thought, eyes closed, appears to be resting, not asleep.'  

On February 24, he requested a bible to read after another sleepless night.

The guards noted him taking medication at the beginning of his stint in the infirmary.

It is not clear what type of medication they described.