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Family members of the late Sean Levert want the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into the musician’s death after a collapse in jail, reports the Associated Press.
R&B singer Sean Levert passed away Sunday, March 30, after collapsing in his cell at Cuyahoga County Jail, in Cuyahoga County, OH. TMZ.com previously reported that Levert was restrained by jail guards who were concerned he might hurt himself or others as he was “out of control” and “hallucinating.”
TMZ also reported that the singer’s family might seek the FBI’s help.
The Associated Press now confirms the reports, quoting Levert’s cousin, Michael Gibson, who says the singer never manifested himself in the way described by jail staff.
Jail warden Kevin McDonough said Levert was pounding on his cell door, which determined guards to strap him to a restraining chair. Levert’s breathing became shallow and he was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, where he died less than an hour later.
Levert, the son of O’Jays vocalist Eddie Levert, was behind bars for failing to pay more than $80,000 in child support to the mother of his children. The 39-year-old singer had pleaded guilty. He had served one week of his one-year, 10-day prison sentence.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner said an autopsy was inconclusive, but added that foul play had been ruled out. There were no signs of trauma on the singer’s body. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks, the coroner added.
The coroner said that Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson says agents would meet with Levert's family, the AP reports.
The Levert family faced tragedy two years ago, when Gerald Levert, Sean’s older brother, died in 2006 at age 40 of an accidental drug overdose. The two brothers and childhood friend Marc Gordon formed LeVert in the 1980s.
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