Charles Peterson
Charlie Peterson, 78, was held at the Weld County Jail in Colorado in March 2020 and released on March 30. He had been living at the Rock Found re-entry center in Greeley, whose director, Cheryl Cook, called him a friend and family member. Two days after his release he died on April 1, 2020, and the official cause was listed as acute respiratory failure, viral pneumonia and COVID-19 infection. The ACLU of Colorado says he was likely released because he was very sick, and family and friends said he was ill when he left the jail. The sheriff's office said he was not tested because he was not overtly symptomatic, and the coroner's office did not respond to questions about his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The ACLU of Colorado says Peterson was released because he was very sick and that the jail should have treated him, while fellow inmates say staff were alerted as he declined quickly but he stayed in the general population, and the sheriff's office says he was not tested because he was not overtly symptomatic.
Reported by: official cause as reported by Reuters (medical examiner or coroner); ACLU of Colorado (family or their lawyers); Cheryl Cook, executive director of the Rock Found center (advocates); Fellow inmates (witnesses); Weld County Jail sheriff's office (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: The ACLU of Colorado filed a federal lawsuit over Charles Peterson's death.