JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than a year after Charles Faggart died following an incident inside the Duval County Jail, his family is still fighting in court to get answers.
The family filed a lawsuit two months ago seeking records tied to his death, including unredacted incident reports and jail surveillance video. Since then, the legal teams for the family and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have been trading arguments in court over what can — and cannot — be released.
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What the court ordered
A court document showed JSO was ordered to produce the requested records or file a written response with cause by May 29.
JSO responded, stating it had provided all requested records, with two exceptions: unredacted incident reports and jail surveillance video. The agency said both are exempt because they constitute “criminal investigative information,” citing an ongoing FBI investigation.
When News4JAX contacted JSO about the delay in releasing those documents to the family, the agency responded: “We don’t comment on pending litigation.”
READ: Full lawsuit filed by Charles Faggart’s family
What happened to Charles Faggart
Faggart was taken from the Duval County Jail to the hospital on April 7, 2025, following an incident inside the facility. He died three days later.
Eight corrections officers and one sergeant involved in the incident were reassigned to positions in the courthouse, Records Unit, and Property and Evidence Unit as the investigation continues.
Family’s attorney pushes back
On June 1, Belkis Plata, the attorney for Faggart’s family, filed a response challenging JSO’s exemption claim.
The filing argued that JSO admitted its own investigation is complete and that while the FBI is still investigating, JSO does not have standing to claim an exemption on the FBI’s behalf.
Mother vows to keep fighting
Faggart’s mother, Tracey Karpas, has been vocal about the toll the unanswered questions have taken on her.
“I’m still waiting to hear anything about my son, so we’re just praying that we get the rest of the stuff,” Karpas said in April.
She added: “I will go to my grave fighting. I will. I don’t think there’s any harder fight.”
The civil trial is expected to start on May 10, 2027.