Jordan Borgognoni, 28

Hattiesburg, Mississippi
July 28, 2016

Agencies: Forrest County Sheriff's Office Mississippi | Hattiesburg Police Department Mississippi

Cause of death: Not Yet Known

Follow This Case

---

Last updated: over 5 years ago

People tracking this case: 1 -- Click here to Track this.

Overview

A Hattiesburg man who claimed several police officers beat him hard enough to break his spine and leave him paralyzed was found dead in a vehicle Thursday afternoon.

Forrest County Sheriff's Department received a medical call around 4 p.m. Thursday in reference to an unresponsive male in a vehicle. On arrival, deputies and medical personnel observed the man was deceased, Forrest County Sheriff's spokesman Nick Calico said.

A death investigation ensued, and the scene was processed by the FCSD crime scene unit.

The investigation is ongoing.

Forrest County Deputy Coroner Lisa Klem said Jordan "Chase" Borgognoni, 28, was found dead in a vehicle parked in a trailer park at 380 Archie Smith Road. He was pronounced dead at 4:12 p.m.

No visible signs of trauma were found, so his body was sent to the state crime lab in Jackson for autopsy to determine the cause of death, she said.

Borgognoni was suing Hattiesburg Police Department and some of its officers for a number of reasons, including negligence; assault and battery; reckless disregard; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The trial was set to begin Tuesday in the Mississippi Southern District of U.S. District Court, but has been continued, said Borgognoni's attorney, Sean R. Guy of McCraney, Montagnet, Quin and Noble in Ridgeland. A new trial date will be set, possibly for later this year.

"Procedurally, there are things that need to be dealt with in light of his passing," Guy said.

Borgognoni's mother, Cindy Borgognoni, had been her son's primary caregiver since he was paralyzed.

"Chase's mother is so distraught, as anyone can imagine," Guy said. "She needs time to grieve properly and deal with his loss."

Borgognoni had a young son, who was born months after the incident that left him paralyzed.