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State, family of dead teen reach settlement

The state and the family of a 17-year-old boy who died at a Pinellas County juvenile detention center have reached a settlement.

Danny Matthews died in 2003 after he was struck by another teen who was let out of his room by an uncertified trainee, who also mistakenly opened Matthews' door.

The family reached a $200,000 settlement with the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Matthews' mother, Diana, says her son's death shouldn't have happened, and when she searched for answers after her son died she wasn't given them.

"I didn't want to sue," Matthews said. "I wanted honesty and I wanted justice. I believed that they would tell me what happened to my son and someone would be charged. I sued because I want the truth. I sued because I want justice; $200,000 for my son's life is a slap in the face. I don't care if it's $200 million. That's not going to save my son or give him back."

The teen that punched Matthews was never criminally charged because the state claimed it was a mutual fight. Matthews says her son never punched back and says that can be seen in video captured from surveillance tapes.

The attorney for the Matthews' family says the state made a number of mistakes, beginning with having an uncertified guard, who couldn't handle the situation, on duty.

"You have a situation in which that officer makes a very bad decision, makes a careless decision, violates his own policy by opening this door and allowing this fight to take place," said attorney Gregory Perenich.

Two guards at the facility were fired following Matthews' death.

Even though a settlement was reached, the Matthews family is asking the state to reopen the case and look more closely at mistakes made during the investigation. The family hopes the state will reconsider charging the teen who punched Matthews.
 
 

 

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