Fred Maynard
Fred Maynard was a former truck driver and the father of two sons and grandfather of three granddaughters. He had to end his career after both legs were amputated, and in August 2023 he wrote to his former wife that things were starting to look up for him. On August 19, 2023, he choked on a sandwich while held at the Cuyahoga County Jail, and video shows that several minutes passed before CPR began. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, Dr. Thomas Gilson, ruled the death accidental, and Fred was pronounced dead at MetroHealth Medical Center that evening. His family says their questions were never answered, and outside experts called the response substandard.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death accidental from choking on a sandwich, while outside experts say the staff's basic life support response was substandard and CPR started too late.
Reported by: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson (medical examiner or coroner); Video of the jail response (reporters); Outside experts; Maynard's family (family or their lawyers).