Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Gregory Lloyd Edwards

38 years old · died December 10, 2018 · Brevard County Jail Complex, Brevard County, Florida

Gregory Lloyd Edwards, 38, was a former U.S. Army combat medic who served in Kosovo and Iraq and had been diagnosed with PTSD, and his widow, Kathleen Edwards, has repeatedly asked state officials to re-investigate his death. He was held at the Brevard County Jail in Florida in December 2018, where deputies pepper-sprayed him, used a Taser, and placed him in a restraint chair. One account says jail video shows he was left alone in a holding cell for about 16 minutes before he was found unresponsive, and he died at a hospital on December 10, 2018. The sheriff's office said the force was justified, and the Brevard County medical examiner ruled the death an accident linked to excited delirium, a diagnosis a state medical examiners panel found only partly supported. The family's lawsuit says arresting officers did not tell jailers about his PTSD or the medical emergency, and the jail video has not been released.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death an accident tied to excited delirium, while his family's lawsuit says deputies used pepper spray, a Taser and a restraint chair, then left him alone in a cell where he was not monitored.

Reported by: Brevard County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Brevard County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Florida Medical Examiners Panel (outside investigators); FDLE (outside investigators); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).

Lawsuit: His family filed a lawsuit over his death, and the sources report no settlement or award amount.

News reports (9)

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Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.