Max Gracia, 22

Orlando, Florida
August 10, 2015

Agencies: Florida Department of Corrections | Florida Department of Law Enforcement FDLE | Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office Florida | Orange County Sheriff's Office Florida

Cause of death: Not Yet Known


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Last updated: over 5 years ago

Overview

9 Investigates found out the state attorney's office is deciding whether someone should be charged for a death at the Orange County Jail.

Channel 9 first started asking questions last August, when Max Gracia died four days after he was bitten by a police dog and taken to jail.

In November, his death was ruled a homicide, which raised concerns about his treatment.

An internal review found that nurses at the Orange County Jail fell short of medical-care standards while treating an inmate who died in custody because of an infection caused by police dog bites received during an arrest.

The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1Nrk32G) reports the review following the August death of 22-year-old Max Gracia prompted one nurse to resign, led to the reprimand of another and a third is awaiting an administrative hearing.

Health Services Department director Christopher Hunter says the review is leading to changes in how they treat inmates suspected of sepsis.

Hunter, a physician who regularly works in an emergency room, said the nurses didn’t perform at the “quality level” expected.

Gracia was found unresponsive four days after his arrest on armed robbery charges.

Legal Action

November 2015 Death ruled homicide

December 2015 Doctors blame nurses for lack of care

June 2016 Max disciplined for faking illness