JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office said on Thursday that the FBI has taken over the investigation into the death of Charles Faggart, 31, who died three days after an “incident” at the Duval County jail left him in critical condition in April.
According to the SAO, the decision for the FBI to take over came after consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The full statement can be read below:
Our office initiated an investigation into the death of Charles Faggart on April 7, 2025. In the days following Faggart’s death, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office asked the FBI to assist in the investigation of the incident. Since that time, our review has run parallel to the one conducted by our federal partner. After consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our federal partners will now take lead on this ongoing investigation.
Spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office
The update comes about five months after eight corrections officers and a sergeant involved in the incident were reassigned to other positions amid the pending investigation.
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Days after the incident occurred, Sheriff T.K. Waters formally requested the Jacksonville Office of the FBI to help investigate the incident, saying in part that JSO requested the agency’s help to be as transparent as possible in the investigation.
JSO also released a statement on the investigation in April, saying, in part, “Detectives continue to work diligently to gain a complete understanding of the facts and circumstances that led to the brain death of Charles Faggart after the April 7th incident at the Duval County Jail. This is an active, dynamic investigation that requires, amongst other things, the opinion of the Office of the Medical Examiner.”
Faggart’s autopsy report was in the hands of the State Attorney’s Office, but prosecutors told News4JAX at the time that it could not be released because of the ongoing investigation into his death.
In a statement to News4JAX on April 9, Attorney Belkis Plata said that Charles Faggart, who was the owner of a food truck and catering company, died after he “was beaten.”
Plata also said JSO had not provided the family with any information about what happened to Faggart.
“Not a phone call. Not a meeting. Not an explanation,” Plata wrote. “This family has a right to know what happened to their son — under Florida law, under Marsy’s Law, and under any sense of human decency. Even if Sheriff Waters refuses to share that information publicly, he owes this family the truth privately."
Plata added that Faggart’s family will not rest until they know exactly what happened.
“We intend to hold every individual involved in this tragedy accountable — both in the criminal justice system and in the civil courts,” Plata wrote. “We continue to call on the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to do what is right — to show this family mercy — and to give them the dignity of knowing the truth before they bury their child.”
In a statement sent to News4JAX on Thursday, the FBI said it could not share any additional information because the organization does not release details to preserve the integrity of its investigations.