Andre Sheffield
Andre Sheffield was a 14-year-old from Arlington whom his grandmother, Berlena Sheffield, raised from the age of 5; she called him a fine, loving kid who smiled all the time, and relatives described him as funny and smart, looking forward to going home to play with the family dog's puppies. He was held at the Brevard County Juvenile Detention Center in Cocoa, Florida, and was found dead in his cell on February 19, 2015, from bacterial meningitis, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. His family said he had complained of headache and stomach pain for weeks and was given only Tylenol, and a state Department of Juvenile Justice inspector general report faulted guards and the superintendent for ignoring his illness and sick-call rules, after which the facility's nurse was terminated. Several staff disputed that he showed signs of distress before he died.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The Medical Examiner's Office determined he died of bacterial meningitis, while his family says staff gave him only Tylenol for weeks of head and stomach pain, and a Department of Juvenile Justice inspector general report faulted guards and the superintendent for ignoring his illness and sick-call rules.
Reported by: Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Florida Department of Health in Brevard County; family; Department of Juvenile Justice inspector general (outside investigators).