David Szakalos
David Szakalos was held at the Charlotte County Jail in Florida when he jumped from a second-story walkway in June 2016. His widow, Susan Szakalos, sued, saying he should have been placed on suicide watch and that medical staff had rated him low risk shortly before. He died about a week later at a hospital, after being taken off life support. The sheriff's attorney argued the act was a sudden, impulsive decision, and a jury later found no negligence by the sheriff, while the claims against the jail's health contractor, Corizon, were settled for $2.5 million through its bankruptcy court. Susan Szakalos spent ten years pursuing the case and said she holds no ill will toward the sheriff.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Susan Szakalos's lawsuit says jail and medical staff should have placed David Szakalos on suicide watch after a medical staff member rated him low risk, and the sheriff's attorney says the jump was a sudden, unforeseeable impulse.
Reported by: Charlotte County Jail, through Sheriff Bill Prummell's attorney (the agency that held him); Susan Szakalos, in her lawsuit (family or their lawyers); jury in the civil suit.
Lawsuit: His widow, Susan Szakalos, sued the sheriff and jail health contractor Corizon, a jury found no negligence by the sheriff, and Corizon settled the case for $2.5 million through its bankruptcy court.