Death of Frank Valdes

That morning, nine correctional officers, carrying stun guns,[1] entered his cell and beat him to death.

[4] The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) stated that Valdes had threatened one of the officers, leading to an extraction team to be called to his cell.

The autopsy showed prints of correctional officer boots in Valdes' skin,[2] and he also had broken ribs.

[5] It was alleged that Valdes committed suicide by diving off of his bunk and hitting the bars of the cell.

Cervone argued that the trial was problematic since it was in Bradford County, Florida, where other prisons are located, and he also cited the two previous acquittals.

Yolanda Murphy, the FDC spokesperson, stated that the nine had falsified reports and used excessive and/or unnecessary force and had, therefore, violated the Department's rules.