William Howard
William Henry Howard, 75, died on November 20, 2016, after being taken from the Orange County Jail in Orlando to Orlando Regional Medical Center. A neighbor, Michael Newman, described him as a very nice fellow who was quiet and easy to get along with. The medical examiner's final autopsy report ruled his death a homicide and noted a use of restraint force in the jail two days before he died. The jail says he died from a traumatic injury sustained when officers used a physical control technique after attempts to move him to another cell, and a separate account from the sheriff's office review and autopsy describes a take-down causing a neck fracture and spinal cord damage. The State Attorney's Office concluded the force was justified and filed no criminal charges, and the jail's internal review remains active.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff. The medical examiner's autopsy ruled the death a homicide from a traumatic injury, and the Orange County Corrections Department says officers' use of an approved physical control technique caused it, while a sheriff's office review says a take-down caused a neck fracture and spinal cord damage.
Reported by: Medical examiner autopsy report (medical examiner or coroner); Orange County Corrections Department (the agency that held him); Orange County Sheriff's Office review (the agency that held him).