Max Gracia
Max Gracia was 22 and died on August 10, 2015, while held at the Orange County Jail in Florida, four days after he was bitten by a police dog during his arrest. His mother has described him as someone who loved his dogs, attended church faithfully, and held a prayer meeting every night for the people on his floor. The Orange County Medical Examiner's office attributed his death to septic shock from infected dog bite wounds, with HIV as a contributing factor. His family says jail medical staff failed to give him adequate care as his wounds became infected, and their federal lawsuit alleges deliberate indifference; a federal judge has ruled a jury could hold the county responsible, and the county says it has reviewed the care and taken personnel and training steps.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The Orange County Medical Examiner's office attributes the death to septic shock from infected dog bite wounds, with HIV as a contributing factor, while his family's federal lawsuit says jail medical staff failed to give him adequate care as the wounds became infected.
Reported by: Orange County Medical Examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); his family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal lawsuit alleging inadequate medical care, and the case was pending in the sources provided.