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Jail Inmate Dies Seven Weeks After Attempted Suicide Is This Death Yet Another Example Of The Failures Of Statewide Jail Standards? Are Staffing Levels Part Of The Problem? |
February 13, 2014 |
but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened."
Winston Churchill
Autopsy Report Is Now Available
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The Death Of William Styffe
VolusiaExposed invites our readers to examine the attached FlaglerLive.Com article regarding the recent death of William Styffe.
On September 18, 2013 - while in custody at the Volusia County jail, Inmate Styffe allegedly attempted suicide. Reports support that a few days prior to attempting to hang himself within the Volusia County jail, Inmate Styffe had attempted suicide while in custody at the Palm Beach County jail. Goodbye Stranger - SuperTramp As supported by media accounts, as well as official jail and sheriff department records, Inmate Styffe initially survived his reported suicide attempt at the Volusia County Branch Jail. |
FlaglerLive.Com Article Click Here For A PDF Copy Of The FlaglerLive Article  |
Inmate Styffe spent the next seven weeks in the hospital and / or other medical facilities, as he slowly apparently died from the injuries he obtained within the Volusia County Branch jail.
According to the above FlaglerLive article, Volusia County Spokesperson, Dave Bryon holds the opinion that Styffe did not die from his jail suicide attempt. Apparently, Mr. Byron doesn't believe that Styffe's suicide attempt was successful.
It shall prove to be interesting whether the Volusia County Medical Examiner shares Mr. Byron's apparent opinion, that Styffe did not successfully commit suicide. (Special Note - VolusiaExposed has referred to the Styffe's death as an "alleged suicide" - one of our rationales for this reference is the apparent belief of Mr. Byron, that Styffe did not successfully commit suicide)
VolusiaExposed requested a copy of Styffe's autopsy report (see below email) - but we have been advised by county officials (Mr. Byron) - that Styffe's autopsy report will take several additional weeks to complete. They are apparently waiting on toxicology reports.
According to the above FlaglerLive article, Volusia County Spokesperson, Dave Bryon holds the opinion that Styffe did not die from his jail suicide attempt. Apparently, Mr. Byron doesn't believe that Styffe's suicide attempt was successful.
It shall prove to be interesting whether the Volusia County Medical Examiner shares Mr. Byron's apparent opinion, that Styffe did not successfully commit suicide. (Special Note - VolusiaExposed has referred to the Styffe's death as an "alleged suicide" - one of our rationales for this reference is the apparent belief of Mr. Byron, that Styffe did not successfully commit suicide)
VolusiaExposed requested a copy of Styffe's autopsy report (see below email) - but we have been advised by county officials (Mr. Byron) - that Styffe's autopsy report will take several additional weeks to complete. They are apparently waiting on toxicology reports.
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The M.E.'s and Sheriff's Office Marlon Brown - Willie Towns - Tracy Veira - etc.
We invite you to review our previous articles in which we exposed possible veracity issues attached to the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office. (see right of web page)
In our previous articles, we exposed some serious veracity issues, in the handling of past death investigations, by both the Volusia County Medical Examiner's office, and the Volusia County Sheriff Department. In regards to the veracity of the VCSO, we suggest you review both the initial and final reports of VCSO Investigator Campanella, regarding the September 2009 in-custody death of Inmate Tracy Veira. |
To Review Our Previous Article On Veracity Issues Attached To The Medical Examiner's Office  |
In regards to the in-custody death of Tracy Veira, why didn't VCSO Investigator Campanella address his own initial concerns, regarding the inconsistencies between the jail officers' account of Ms. Veira's last interactions with staff, and her obvious state of rigor mortis?
We (VolusiaExposed) suspect, that like in the Styffe death, and as discussed in the above FlagerLive article, the county was attempting to avoid liability in the death of Tracy Veira.
At the very least, such should call into question - why the county medical examiner's office is allowed to investigate deaths within it's very own department. Both the M.E.'s office and the county jail are divisions within the Volusia County Department of Public Protection. ** Many Medical Examiner's offices within Florida are Florida State offices - however, in Volusia County, due to it's County Charter - the M.E.'s office is a county, not state office.
We (VolusiaExposed) suspect, that like in the Styffe death, and as discussed in the above FlagerLive article, the county was attempting to avoid liability in the death of Tracy Veira.
At the very least, such should call into question - why the county medical examiner's office is allowed to investigate deaths within it's very own department. Both the M.E.'s office and the county jail are divisions within the Volusia County Department of Public Protection. ** Many Medical Examiner's offices within Florida are Florida State offices - however, in Volusia County, due to it's County Charter - the M.E.'s office is a county, not state office.
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Is At The Heart Of The Problem The 1996 Repeal Of Florida Administrative Code 33-8 And It's Deadly Repercussions
Earlier this month, VolusiaExposed ran the attached article (see right of screen), in which we exposed the lack of enforceable Florida jail standards. We invite you to review this article.
Prior to October 1, 1996 - all Florida county jails were MANDATED to adhere to the standards of Florida Administrative Code 33-8. Under FAC 33-8 standards, all in-custody jail deaths, or attempted suicides were independently investigated by the Florida State Prison Inspector. These investigations were independent of any internal jail or sheriff department investigations. On October 1, 1996 - after much lobbying by many Florida Sheriffs - the Florida Legislature repealed FAC 33-8, allowing the Florida Sheriff Association to develop their own non-enforceable standards. |
To Review Our Previous Article On The Failures Of Florida Model Jail Standards  |
These new jail standards are known as Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS), and are maintained and developed by the Florida Sheriff Association.
While many correctional administrators may attempt to cajole the public into the belief that the standards within FMJS are equal to, or better than the previous FAC 33-8 standards - this simply is not true. Making a comparison of FAC 33-8 to FMJS is like comparing a 747 airliner to a paper plane - while both do fly - you can only safely travel on one.
While many correctional administrators may attempt to cajole the public into the belief that the standards within FMJS are equal to, or better than the previous FAC 33-8 standards - this simply is not true. Making a comparison of FAC 33-8 to FMJS is like comparing a 747 airliner to a paper plane - while both do fly - you can only safely travel on one.
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Into Mr. Styffe's Death Lip Stick On a Pig
In the scroll box to the right, we have included the cover pages of both the jail's and the sheriff department's investigations into Styffe's alleged suicide attempt. Also included within the scroll box are web links to COMPLETE PDF copies of both reports.
ALL of these reports were generated prior to Styffe's November 9th death. We have reached out to the Volusia County Sheriff office, questioning them on whether they have re-opened an death investigation, but thus far we have received no answer to our inquiry. Don't be too surprised if the VCSO has not opted to re-open a death investigation - why? Because they may have already written Styffe's death off as a suicide, regardless of County Spokesman Byron's assurances that the County Medical Examiner's office has not concluded their investigation yet. |
Investigative Reports Click Here - Complete Jail Investigative Reports Large PDF file - allow time for download Click Here - VCSO Investigative Reports        |
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And such is life in the second most corrupt county in the nation !
Well, actually Volusia County was the second most corruption county in the nation in the 1920's and 1930's. This (second most corrupt county) is something that Volusia County administrators proudly professed on one of their official government sponsored web sites.(see right of screen) How nice is it to see that some Volusia County officials apparently wish to keep modern day Volusia County connected to it's historical roots? 
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Volusia County Spokesperson, Dave Byron Click Here For A PDF Copy Of The Email 
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Did Staffing Reductions Play A Role In Styffe's Death?
VolusiaExposed.Com received yet un-substantiated information that recent reductions in jail staffing played a possible role in the death of Styffe.
Per our anonymous source, 2A and 2B cell blocks are used to house inmates under suicide watches. Each cell block has sixteen cells (8 on the lower tier and 8 on the upper tier). Initially EACH cell block had one correctional officer assigned to maintain suicide watches on these inmates. However, per our source, at sometime prior to Styffe's September suicide attempt, suicide watches within both cell blocks (2A and 2B) were being completed by ONE officer, instead of the prior two officers. A 50 percent reduction in staffing within those particular cell blocks. In our attached email to Mr. Byron, we attempted to substantiate this information - however, Mr. Byron failed to address it. We were able to verify that Styffe was NOT in the custody of the jail when he died. At sometime prior to his death he was released to the custody of a medical facility, on a conditional release, mandating his return to custody should his health condition improve. Yet another liability reducing and cost cutting measure by county officials? - You decide |
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