Calvin Atkins
Calvin Atkins, a Muslim man and father, died in July 2025 while held at Florida Gulf Correctional Institution, a Florida state prison. His mother, Jennifer Shelton, said he wanted to be buried in a place where his children could visit him. The Florida Department of Corrections lists the manner of death as pending the medical examiner's finding, while some news reports describe it as a homicide. Shelton said she could not afford a burial, so a funeral home cremated him at no cost, his ashes were divided between two containers, and she was never told the state would consider a burial if no one claimed his body. She said his blue-and-white prayer rug and a torn notebook were among the belongings returned to her, and that more than a year later state officials still had not told her what happened, with the case still under investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. News reporting describes his death as a homicide, but state officials have not told his mother what happened, and the case remains under investigation.
Reported by: reporters.
Custody: Serving a sentence.
Sources (7)
- Inmate Mortality, fiscal year 2025-2026
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families - Waco Tribune-Herald
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families - Omaha World-Herald
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families - Star-Herald
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families - Lexington Clipper-Herald
- How America’s patchwork of death-in-custody rules is failing families - Corvallis Gazette-Times