Jose Irizarry
Jose Irizarry, 40, lived with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. His sister Cinthia said he was deeply affected by the deaths of their father and their mother in a 2020 fire, and that he was grieving the end of his marriage, and that he had cared for his wife and her four children. He was held at the Cuyahoga County Jail and released late at night in November 2020 without a coat or a working cellphone. Cleveland police believe he went into Lake Erie at Whiskey Island within hours, though his body has never been found. His sister says jail officials gave him medication he did not recognize and released him in the middle of the night without notifying family, and the county did not comment on his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). Cleveland police believe he went into Lake Erie after release, but his body was never found; his family says jail medication and late-night release practices caused his disappearance, and they allege he was released without a coat, working phone or notice to family.
Reported by: Cleveland police; his sister.