Timothy Thomas
Timothy Thomas, 43, died on April 1, 2018, while held at a Florida state prison in the Lake Butler area, according to the Florida Department of Corrections, which lists the manner of death as pending the medical examiner's finding. His mother, Carol Thomas, said he was somebody and a human being, and his brother, Carlos Wilkson, says the family wants justice for him. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family against the Florida Department of Corrections alleges that guards beat and pepper-sprayed him during a transfer for a medical procedure and that he was denied timely medical care. The lawsuit's allegations are the family's claims; the state's account of the manner of death has not been finalized, and an earlier homicide ruling was later changed to undetermined, with the body exhumed for further examination.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). The Florida Department of Corrections lists the manner of death as pending, while FDLE investigators list it as undetermined after first calling it a homicide, and his family's wrongful death lawsuit says guards beat and pepper-sprayed him during a transfer and denied him timely medical care.
Reported by: Florida Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); FDLE investigators (outside investigators); family attorney Robert Slama (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections, alleging guards beat and pepper-sprayed him and denied timely medical care, and no amount has been reported.