Rolando Perez
Rolando Perez, 36, died in January 2014 in his cell in solitary confinement at Rikers Island, two days after he was placed there. He had a seizure disorder that he had managed with anti-epilepsy medication since he was a teenager, and he was the father of a son. His family and their attorney say he was denied that medication while held in solitary and was placed there without clearance from medical and mental health staff. An autopsy found he died of heart problems and a seizure, and the city has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle the family's lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy found he died of a seizure and heart problems, but his family and attorney say correction officers withheld his epilepsy medication while he was in solitary, and inmates reported hearing him screaming for it.
Reported by: autopsy; his partner, Alexis Rodriguez, and the family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); inmates held with him.
Lawsuit: His family sued the city, and New York City agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle the suit over his death at Rikers Island.