Robert Earl Simmons
David Paul Weinstein, 45, and Robert Earl Simmons, 54, died on April 30, 2014, when an explosion tore through the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola, Florida, late that Wednesday night. Officials called it an apparent gas explosion, and the sheriff said gas was the likely cause, with investigators checking whether a flooded laundry room had been leaking gas. People held at the jail had told family, media and attorneys that they smelled gas before the blast, but the county said it had no record of those concerns. State fire marshal and federal ATF investigators were working to determine the cause and whether the deaths could have been prevented.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (neglect alleged). Inmates told family, media and attorneys they smelled gas before the blast, but the county said it had no record of those concerns.
Reported by: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan (the agency that held them); Escambia County (the agency that held them); Kathleen Castro, Escambia County spokeswoman (the agency that held them); state Fire Marshal and ATF investigators (outside investigators); inmates' family, media and attorneys (family or their lawyers).