An Ohio coroner ruled Thursday that R&B singer Sean Levert died of natural causes, however, his family believes his death possibly could have been prevented had he been allowed to seek medical attention during the week he was in jail...
Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller's report indicates no foul play or trauma was involved in Levert's death, reports the Associated Press. Miller said the artist died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs.
According to Miller, Levert suffered from a number of other aliments, including heart disease, high blood sugar and withdrawal from alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks that is better known under the trade name Xanax. Attorneys for Levert's widow say sheriff's department records they reviewed show he wasn't given his alprazolam while in jail or seen by a doctor, which might have prevented his death. Lawyers Daryl Dennie and David Malik, who represent Levert's widow, Angela Lowe, said they reviewed documents in the coroner's office showing that Levert brought a bottle of Xanax with him to the jail.
"They inventoried it and they never gave it to him," Malik said. "He requested it during the time he was in jail." Following Levert's death, jail warden Kevin McDonough said the singer had been ill and was being monitored by guards because of his bizarre behavior. When he started pounding on his cell door, guards strapped him in a restraint chair, McDonough said. Levert's breathing became shallow and he was taken to the hospital.
"He was exhibiting classic signs of Xanax withdrawal," Dennie said, according to the AP. "A doctor would have been able to recognize these problems. Had he been able to see one in that week's time things could have been different."
Malik said the family may ask the FBI to investigate their concerns. FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said in April that agents were willing to meet with Levert's family. Wilson said Thursday that the FBI was never contacted by the family.
Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller's report indicates no foul play or trauma was involved in Levert's death, reports the Associated Press. Miller said the artist died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs.
According to Miller, Levert suffered from a number of other aliments, including heart disease, high blood sugar and withdrawal from alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks that is better known under the trade name Xanax. Attorneys for Levert's widow say sheriff's department records they reviewed show he wasn't given his alprazolam while in jail or seen by a doctor, which might have prevented his death. Lawyers Daryl Dennie and David Malik, who represent Levert's widow, Angela Lowe, said they reviewed documents in the coroner's office showing that Levert brought a bottle of Xanax with him to the jail.
"They inventoried it and they never gave it to him," Malik said. "He requested it during the time he was in jail." Following Levert's death, jail warden Kevin McDonough said the singer had been ill and was being monitored by guards because of his bizarre behavior. When he started pounding on his cell door, guards strapped him in a restraint chair, McDonough said. Levert's breathing became shallow and he was taken to the hospital.
