Ezra Bozeman
Ezra Bozeman, 68, had been imprisoned in Pennsylvania for nearly five decades, and friends called him Boze. His lawyer, Dolly Prabhu, described him as "the sweetest, sweetest person" who stayed optimistic, and his fiancée, Christine Roess, called him a "most incredible, mature, wonderful man." An Allegheny County judge granted his request for compassionate release in May 2024 and he was moved to a facility better able to treat his condition, and he died at UPMC Altoona on June 1, about 12 days later. His lawyer says a back injury was misdiagnosed for years and that he was left paralyzed from the chest down after surgery. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections confirmed the death, and the cause and manner have not been stated by officials.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). His lawyer says a back injury was misdiagnosed for years, and his fiancée and advocates say the release process held him up at every turn, while the Department of Corrections confirmed the death without giving a cause.
Reported by: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his lawyer; his fiancée and advocates (advocates).