Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin, 24, was a father of two daughters he had seen only a few times. His wife said he was looking forward to his release and to being a father, and a childhood friend said he never did anything violent. He was held at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Florida, and a Miami Herald investigation reports he was moved into a cell with another man only hours before he was attacked on March 30, 2012. People held nearby say they warned guards, who did not intervene, and his family has sued Florida prison officials, saying they failed to protect him. He was taken to a Pensacola hospital, was removed from life support on April 8, 2012, and died; his family says they were not told who authorized that, and the Miami Herald could not confirm who did. The Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing injuries too severe to have been self-inflicted, while the defense in the cellmate's trial argues that Martin was cutting himself.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, the cellmate's defense argues Martin was cutting himself, and his family says guards ignored inmates' warnings and should not have housed the two men together.
Reported by: Florida Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); District One Chief Medical Examiner Andrea Minyard (medical examiner or coroner); Florida Department of Corrections inspector general (outside investigators); Martin's family and their federal civil lawsuit (family or their lawyers); inmates held at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution (witnesses); Miami Herald (reporters); prosecutors.
Lawsuit: Martin's family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Florida state officials over his death, and the case remains ongoing with no reported payment.
News reports (11)
- Inmate Mortality, archived data file
- Inmate Beaten To Death By Cellmate
- Was killing behind bars a set-up?
- Trial delayed for inmate accused of killing prisoner from Collier
- Murder charge dismissed against inmate accused of killing North Naples man
- Prisoner's trial begins this week in death of North Naples man
- Trial starts for Santa Rosa County inmate accused of killing fellow inmate
- Autopsy: Murder victim had self-harm wounds, but was likely 'stomped'
- Fla. inmate faces possible death sentence for killing cellmate
- Shawn Rogers sentenced for cellmate's beating death - WEAR-TV
- Florida Supreme Court upholds death sentence for inmate who murdered cellmate