Tooth infection and dental disease cited as cause of death for Haitian man in ICE custody

A dental infection and dental disease were cited as the cause of death of a Haitian man who died this spring while in ICE custody, according to the Maricopa County medical examiner’s office.

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Emmanuel Damas, 56, died March 2 at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. ICE said he was taken to the hospital on Feb. 19 after complaining of shortness of breath while at the Florence, Arizona, detention center. Damascus was taken into custody in September and remained detained until his death.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s website now lists Damascus’ leading cause of death as “Complications of necrotizing mediastinitis with cervical and retropharyngeal abscess in the setting of severe dental caries and peridontal disease.”

The report also describes the “manner of death” as “natural.”

An operator with the medical examiner’s office said Friday that no preliminary reports had been released yet and reports would not be released for 90 days. The medical examiner did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday afternoon.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond Friday evening to a request for comment on the medical examiner’s findings.

In a March 6 statement, ICE detailed Damascus’ medical treatment, saying he was tested at the hospital and had been in the hospital’s intensive care unit throughout his stay. It does not include any discussions or concerns Damascus may have raised regarding his teeth or whether he had made any requests for dental work.

Days after his death, Damascus’ brother told the Associated Press that Damascus died of an untreated dental infection.

Damascus’ brother’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.

Damascus’ brother, Presly Nelson, had already said his brother was fine before his arrest. Nelson said Damascus periodically underwent routine dental work but did not have any serious problems. Nelson said the last week he spoke to his brother, Damascus was complaining of a toothache.

Nelson said a person who had become friends with Damas while they were both detained called him to tell him that Damas was not well and that he had been taken to the hospital. Nelson said his friend said Damascus was complaining of a toothache and was given ibuprofen by a nurse at the detention center.

“At no time did we think this would happen. The last time I spoke to him, if I had known it would have been the last time, I would have made it a more meaningful conversation,” Nelson previously said.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, said the medical examiner’s preliminary findings raised more questions about Damascus’ medical treatment while in custody.

She said she had formally requested Damascus’ medical records, records of staff complaints and a “full account of the circumstances leading to his death.” She said in a statement that her office had not received “the complete records, transparency and accountability her family deserves.”

The medical examiner’s final report is expected to be released later this month.