Joseph Bialaszewski
Joseph Bialaszewski, 29, died on July 26, 2019, at Buffalo General Medical Center after being held at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo, New York. His mother, Gail Bialaszewski, said the medical center told her he died of a ruptured ulcer that led to sepsis and cardiac arrest, and family members helped her raise the $900 needed to collect his ashes from a funeral home. The source reports that he had complained of feeling ill and was placed in a detox cell away from medical staff and not in constant view of guards. It also reports that he was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell, and that it is unclear how long he lay there before staff found him. The state commission is investigating his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). His mother says the medical center told her a ruptured ulcer led to sepsis and cardiac arrest, and that he complained of feeling ill before staff placed him in a detox cell away from medical staff and out of the guards' constant view.
Reported by: His mother (family or their lawyers); Buffalo General Medical Center.