Cornelius Frederick
Cornelius Frederick, 16, loved chess and card tricks and wanted to become a counselor, and a former peer support specialist described him as having 'a really soft heart' beneath a tough exterior. On April 29, 2020, seven staff members at Lakeside Academy, a residential youth facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, restrained him for about 12 minutes in the cafeteria after he threw a sandwich, and he died at a hospital two days later. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by asphyxiation. Three employees face criminal charges and have pleaded not guilty, saying they followed facility protocol; the prosecutor and the state dispute that account, and his family has filed a civil lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from asphyxiation during restraint by staff, while three staff members, who plead not guilty, say they followed facility protocol, which prosecutors dispute and the family's civil lawsuit contests.
Reported by: medical examiner or coroner; prosecutors; his family's civil lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family is pursuing a civil lawsuit over his death, and three Lakeside Academy employees face criminal charges, which they deny; no settlement or award amount has been reported.