Back on October 15, 2016, 15-year-old Roger Trindale was found in Central Park in Winter Park beaten and unconscious. Unfortunately, he later passed away from his injuries. Now, his family recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit in response to the incident and want answers as to why their child was taken from them so soon.
Back on October 15, 2016, 15-year-old Roger Trindale was found in Central Park in Winter Park beaten and unconscious. Unfortunately, he later passed away from his injuries. Now, his family recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit in response to the incident and want answers as to why their child was taken from them so soon.
According to the suit, Trindade was found “just steps away from a busy shopping and dining area.” Since the incident, Jesse Sutherland and Simeon Hall, both 16-years-old, were found guilty by a jury of manslaughter and battery and were sentenced to juvenile detention.
In response to the jury’s decision, Roger’s father, Rodrigo Trindade, said, “I think it’s a shame.” Since his son’s death, Rodrigo “has been critical of the justice system,” which is a big reason why he and his family decided to file the suit in Orange County court. But what are the allegations in the family’s suit?
For starters, the Trindade’s argue that the “City of Winter Park failed to provide adequate security in the Central Park area,” and claim “Orange County Public Schools failed to enforce its own student code of conduct, pointing out that many in the group of teenagers that had gathered that night had a pattern of questionable behavior with the school district.” Additionally, the suit claims the “Orange County School Board created a zone of danger, which encompassed Central Park by allowing gangs involving many of the defendants to exist.”
In addition to those allegations, the suit also “targets the teens who were convicted of Trindade’s death, other teens who the parents claim were gathered that night and the teens’ parents, ultimately blaming them for the death of their son.”
In addition to seeking a jury trial and damages, the family’s attorney, Steve Kirschner, said they “want the City of Winter Park and Orange County School Board to change policies in a way that will not only identify problematic children but correct and punish their troublesome behavior.” He noted that the current procedures in place in the Orange County School Board “coddle violent students and in return, their behavior becomes more brazen as they do not fear punishment,” and added:
“Punishment must meet the behavior. That is not the case now and nor was it the case in 2016, when the OCSB let Roger Trindade and his parents down in the worst way.”
At the end of the day, the Trindade wants reform, according to Kirschner, who also added:
“There needs to be better outreach between police and youth. There needs to be better identification of troubled youth and programs that include parents and guardians. Parents and guardians need the tools necessary to better supervise and nurture their children.”
So far, the City of Winter Park and Orange County Public Schools have yet to respond to requests for comment.
Sources:
Family of Winter Park teen files wrongful death lawsuit
Family of fatally beaten Winter Park teen files wrongful death lawsuit
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