Karl B. Westgate
Karl Westgate, 19, of Palm Coast, died while held at the Apalachee Correctional Institution East Unit, a Florida state prison, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. The department's mortality record gives the date of death as July 16, 2015, and lists the manner of death as suicide. His father, Daniel Westgate, and his sister say that in letters from prison he wrote that his life was being repeatedly threatened and asked to be placed in protective custody, a request they say was turned down. The department's Office of Inspector General opened a criminal investigation, and at the time of reporting the medical examiner's report had not been released.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The Florida Department of Corrections recorded the death as a suicide, while his father and sister say he wrote that his life was being threatened and that he asked for protective custody, which they say staff refused.
Reported by: Florida Department of Corrections (the agency that held him). The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held him.