Vincent C. Gaines
Vincent Gaines was described as a man with severe mental illness, and his mother, Lorine, brought a lawsuit over his death with the Human Rights Defense Center. He was held at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, in a close management unit, and died there on December 3, 2015. According to the medical examiners' autopsy, the manner of death was undetermined, and the report noted malnutrition and a weight of 115 pounds. The family's lawsuit alleges he was starved to death and buried by the state without their consent, and the family says he was not released to them after his death. A Florida Department of Corrections mortality record lists the manner of death as natural, which conflicts with the medical examiners' undetermined finding.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The medical examiner's autopsy listed the manner as undetermined and noted malnutrition, the Florida Department of Corrections recorded the death as natural, and his family's lawsuit alleges the state starved him.
Reported by: Medical examiners (medical examiner or coroner); Florida Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the state of Florida, alleging he was starved to death and buried without their consent, and the reporting gives no settlement or award amount.