Daniel ‘Danny’ Matthews
Daniel 'Danny' Matthews, 17, died on May 31, 2003, at the Pinellas County Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Florida. His mother, Diana Matthews, said she was devastated and that there was no reason for his death. The account says a guard mistakenly opened two youths' cell doors, and a fight broke out in a hallway; after exchanging punches, Danny collapsed and died of blunt head trauma. A senior detention officer was later fired and an assistant superintendent was suspended.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). A guard mistakenly opened two youths' cell doors, and the fight that followed in a hallway left him with fatal blunt head trauma; a senior detention officer was fired and an assistant superintendent suspended.