Cause of Death Released for Stabbing Suspect Who Died at 88th Precinct Stationhouse in July

Angel Cordero – the stabbing suspect who died suddenly in the 88th Precinct’s custody in July – died a natural death, suffering “withdrawal syndrome with seizures complicating chronic polysubstance abuse,” a Medical Examiner’s office spokeswoman revealed nearly four months after his death.

The Medical Examiner’s office did not disclose specifically what substances Cordero abused, but his sister, Maribel Taylor, told The Nabe in July that her brother might have abused alcohol. His high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease also played a role in his death, the spokeswoman said.

Cordero’s family did not respond to requests for comment about the cause of death.

During the summer, his grieving nephew, Donovan Mendoza, called his uncle’s death shocking and preventable, adding that it begged for an explanation from the NYPD and the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services.

Cordero died at the precinct stationhouse on July 5 of an apparent seizure in a holding pen, a day after he reportedly stabbed a 48-year-old woman during an argument on the corner of Carlton and Myrtle Avenues, police said.After arresting Cordero on July 4 at 3:56 a.m, police said they took him first to the stationhouse, and then to Woodhull Medical Center to be treated for signs of “discomfort.” He was released from the hospital about an hour later, and cops brought him back to the stationhouse and placed him in a holding pen.

The next day at 1:40 a.m., police summoned the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services to aid Cordero, describing him as a “sick patient,” according to Frank Dwyer, an FDNY spokesman. Medics arrived at 5:30 a.m., and by that time, Cordero was dead, Dwyer said.

Donovan Mendoza, 24, Cordero’s nephew, told The Nabe at his uncle’s funeral he believes that if police and EMS got Cordero medical attention more quickly, he could have survived.

“As an agency, both FDNY and NYPD, they have a moral and ethical obligation to fulfill,” Mendoza said at the time.  “When you have someone in your custody, it’s your obligation to make sure that person receives the type of treatment that’s fair and just. We just want to get to the bottom of what happened.”

Although Mendoza would not say whether the family planned on pursuing legal action against the FDNY or NYPD, he noted he would do whatever it takes to get the answers his family sought about the death.“The family would like closure,” he said in July. “If that means protesting, if that means rallying, if that means setting up demonstrations to get the type of attention that’s necessary, we will go there. We’re calling for action. This is our plea for some type of action.”