SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — A 17-year-old Honduran migrant who died in U.S. custody may have died from an epileptic seizure and was "breathing abnormally" in the hours before, according to the Pinellas County sheriff. However, authorities and family await the final autopsy.
Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza was placed in a holding center in Safety Harbor on Friday, May 5, just two days after being processed at the U.S.-Mexico border. The teen died on May 10 after being found unconscious in his room.
10 Tampa Bay's Angelina Salcedo spoke to Maradiaga Espinoza's mother Monday. She said her son had a minor case of epilepsy, but she didn't believe that was the cause of his death.
"He was healthy, he was fine. He was strong because all he did was play sports. He was a strong boy. I haven't gotten any concrete answers about his death or what happened to him. The facility hasn't told me anything," Norma Sarahy Maradiaga Espinoza said in Spanish.
She says her son was a soccer star with a bright future in his hometown of Olanchita, Honduras. He left for more opportunities, a better life and to help his mother.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said while the autopsy report isn't complete, details from their investigation show Ángel had a cut on his tongue consistent with that of an epileptic episode. The laceration on his tongue leads the sheriff to believe he died of an epileptic seizure overnight.
Gualtieri says the family, specifically a cousin who lives in Tampa and was his sponsor, had warned Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) about the teen’s epilepsy and his susceptibility to seizures.
Deputies found Ángel’s medical records had been uploaded by JFCS into its system but were never reviewed by staff, meaning they were not aware of his epilepsy or possible convulsions.
During a health check when Ángel was first brought to the facility, Gualtieri says doctors weren't made aware of his epilepsy. The teen didn’t tell the staff about his condition and said he didn’t have any medication on him.
During a Tuesday, May 16, afternoon news conference, Gualtieri said prior to going to sleep the night he died, the two boys he shared a room with reported that Ángel told them he snored at night and to not wake him up. They heard him snoring and heard him "breathing abnormally," Gualtieri said but did not wake him.
The sheriff explained that that was not snoring, but "breathing distress." It wasn't until about 8 a.m. the next morning that he was found with no pulse.
"There's no crime here," Gualtieri said. "This is a tragic situation. It's a medical event."
The teen's mother confirmed to Salcedo her son had left his home in Olanchita, Honduras, with a three-month supply of his medication and had it him when he arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border on May 3.
"He left with his medicine in April. He had it with him," Norma Sarahy Maradiaga Espinoza said.
Deputies are still working to determine whether Ángel had his medication with him when he arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border on May 3 and have asked U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for more information.
The Honduran government says Ángel was brought to Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor after being found unconscious at 8 a.m. on May 10. Officials say doctors performed CPR for an hour before he was declared dead at 9:03 a.m.
While everyone waits for an autopsy to be concluded, the teen's family says his death is inexplicable. They want his body quickly transferred back home to Honduras.
"What I need is for them to put their hand on their heart and give me a quick response about everything that's happened because I need an explanation," his mother said.
At the conclusion of Tuesday's news conference, Gualtieri acknowledged the lack of communication with the family in the investigation but explained that he wanted to be transparent and have accurate information before making any announcements.
"I believe in being transparent and putting it all out there at the first possible time. I think that's the way things should be done," he said. "I don't believe in embargoing information, clamping down on it and not putting it out there."