OSINT Report: Johnny Noviello - ICE Detention Death¶
Date of Research: February 5, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Johnny Noviello - Death in ICE custody
Confidence: HIGH
Executive Summary¶
On June 23, 2025, Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian citizen and U.S. lawful permanent resident, was found unresponsive at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida, and pronounced dead at the scene. Noviello had epilepsy and required daily anti-seizure medication, which his family "painstakingly" worked to ensure he received. Critical medical red flags were documented but inadequately addressed: the day after his arrest, he reported seizures/convulsions and hypertension, was prescribed medications, but the facility lacked his required medication (Klonopin) and only provided 75% of his regular Tegretol dosage. At the time of death, his body temperature was 95.5°F (hypothermia) and blood glucose was less than half normal levels, suggesting prolonged deterioration and possible malnutrition. The ICE death report indicates he "had been deteriorating for a while and among other things was probably not eating enough." He was detained for 39 days. Family could not reach him except for one brief phone call during 5 weeks of detention. Cause of death remains under investigation 7+ months later. This is the 10th death in ICE custody in 2025 (as of June).
Pattern: Medical neglect, inadequate medication, prolonged deterioration ignored, family communication blocked.
VICTIM PROFILE¶
Johnny Noviello
- Age: 49 years old
- Citizenship: Canada (also U.S. lawful permanent resident since 1991)
- Entered U.S.: January 2, 1988 (legal visa status)
- Lawful permanent resident: October 1991 (green card holder for 34 years)
- Residence: Port Orange, Florida (Volusia County)
- Medical condition: Epilepsy (required daily anti-seizure medication)
- Father: Angelo Noviello, 80 years old
Criminal History:
- October 2023 convictions (Volusia County, Florida):
- Racketeering
- Trafficking in oxycodone 7-14 grams
- Trafficking in illegal drugs 4-14 grams
- Trafficking in hydrocodone
- Unlawful use of two-way communication device to facilitate crime
- Sentence: 12 months in prison
- Completed sentence: May 2025
ICE Detention:
- Arrested by ICE: May 15, 2025 (at probation office in Daytona Beach after completing prison sentence)
- ICE charge: Removability due to criminal convictions
- Notice to appear: Immigration court proceedings initiated
- Initial detention: Krome Service Processing Center (brief)
- Transfer to Federal Detention Center Miami: May 19, 2025
- Total time in custody: 39 days (May 15 - June 23)
THE INCIDENT - May 15 - June 23, 2025¶
Location: Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center, Miami, Florida
Timeline¶
May 15, 2025 - ICE Arrest:
- ICE agents arrest Noviello at his probation office in Daytona Beach
- He had just completed 12-month prison sentence for drug trafficking
- Charged with removability (deportation proceedings)
- Initially held at Krome detention facility
Critical: Noviello's family says he had epilepsy and required daily medication to prevent seizures.
May 16, 2025 (Day 2) - MEDICAL RED FLAGS DOCUMENTED:
- Noviello reports: "unspecified convulsions" and hypertension
- ICE diagnosis: Seizure disorder and hypertension
- Prescribed: Anticonvulsant medications and blood pressure medications
- Referred: Behavioral health provider
Critical medication problems identified:
1. Klonopin (required for epilepsy) - Facility did not stock it
2. Tegretol (anti-convulsant) - Only receiving 75% of regular dosage
Father's Medication Delivery:
- Angelo Noviello (father) delivered Johnny's epilepsy medication to Orlando facility where he was briefly held
- Did not see his son that day
- Does not know if Johnny ever received the medication
- The medication was later returned with Johnny's personal belongings after his death
May 19, 2025 - Transfer:
- ERO Miami transfers Noviello to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Federal Detention Center in Miami
- Pending removal proceedings
May 20, 2025 (Day 6) - Post-Transfer Medical:
- Officials note: Normal vital signs except:
- Elevated heart rate
- Abnormal blood pressure
- Another provider note: Noviello "maintained poor personal hygiene and stated he had not eaten in 'a while'"
Critical: Not eating + epilepsy medication issues = medical emergency ignored.
May 30, 2025 (Day 16) - REFUSED MEDICAL EXAM:
- Noviello refuses full physical exam and health history check
- Question: Was this refusal documented as concerning behavior? Was mental health evaluation triggered?
June 8, 2025 (Day 25) - MENTAL HEALTH RED FLAG:
- Noviello evaluated by healthcare provider
- Reports "feeling sad and depressed"
- Refuses to go to medical clinic for evaluation
- Medical provider requests mental health referral
Critical: Depression + refusal of medical care + not eating + epilepsy = HIGH RISK, requires immediate intervention.
June 9-22, 2025 (Days 26-39):
- Unknown medical monitoring or interventions
- Family reports unable to reach him except one brief phone call during entire 5 weeks
- No documented mental health follow-up found in public reports
June 23, 2025 (Day 39) - DEATH:
- Time: Approximately 1:00 PM (12:54 PM medical response)
- Discovery: Prison staff find Noviello unresponsive, no pulse
- Critical findings at discovery:
- Body temperature: 95.5°F (hypothermia - normal is 98.6°F)
- Blood glucose: Less than half the lower limit of normal (severe hypoglycemia)
- Medical response:
- 12:54 PM: Medical staff respond
- Administer CPR
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED) shock
- Call 911
- 1:36 PM: Miami Fire Rescue Department pronounces him deceased at the scene
ICE Death Report finding:
"Findings suggesting that Mr. Noviello had been deteriorating for a while and among other things was probably not eating enough."
Critical: ICE's own report acknowledges prolonged, visible deterioration was not adequately addressed.
MEDICAL NEGLECT ANALYSIS¶
Epilepsy Medication Crisis¶
What Was Required:
- Daily anti-seizure medication (Klonopin and Tegretol) without interruption
- Missing doses or incorrect dosages can trigger seizures, which can be fatal
- Consistency is critical - medication must be taken at same time each day
What Actually Happened:
1. Klonopin not available - Facility did not stock his required medication
2. Tegretol underdosed - Only 75% of his regular prescription
3. Father's medication delivery rejected - Brought medication to Orlando facility, never confirmed if Johnny received it
4. Medication returned after death - Suggests it was never administered
Medical Consequence:
- Inadequate seizure control increases risk of:
- Status epilepticus (prolonged seizures, medical emergency)
- Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
- Falls, injuries during seizures
- Cognitive decline, confusion
Question: Did Noviello die from inadequately controlled seizures? Did he have seizures that were not documented or responded to?
Malnutrition and Deterioration¶
Evidence of Not Eating:
- May 20 (Day 6): Provider notes "had not eaten in 'a while'"
- June 23 (death): Blood glucose less than half normal - severe hypoglycemia
- ICE report conclusion: "probably not eating enough"
Medical Consequence:
- Severe hypoglycemia can cause:
- Seizures (especially dangerous with epilepsy)
- Loss of consciousness
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
- Hypothermia (95.5°F) suggests:
- Prolonged inadequate food intake
- Body unable to regulate temperature
- Advanced medical crisis
Critical Questions:
1. Why wasn't malnutrition identified earlier when provider noted on Day 6 he wasn't eating?
2. Was he monitored for weight loss? (Standard ICE protocol)
3. Were daily welfare checks conducted?
4. Why wasn't IV nutrition or hospitalization ordered when he wasn't eating for weeks?
Pattern: Observable, documented deterioration over 39 days with no effective intervention.
Mental Health Crisis Ignored¶
June 8 (Day 25) - Depression Documented:
- Reports "feeling sad and depressed"
- Refuses medical clinic evaluation
- Provider requests mental health referral
What Should Have Happened:
- Immediate mental health evaluation (same day or next day)
- Suicide risk assessment
- Enhanced observation (15-minute checks)
- Mental health treatment plan
- Coordination with medical team (epilepsy + depression)
What We Know Happened:
- No public documentation of mental health follow-up
- Death occurred 15 days later
- Cause of death under investigation
Critical: Refusing medical care + depression + not eating = high suicide risk or self-neglect.
Protocol Violations - ICE Medical Standards¶
ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011 (PBNDS) Requirements:
4.3 Medical Care:
- Initial health screening within 12 hours
- Comprehensive health assessment within 14 days
- "Sick call" system for detainee-initiated care
- Chronic care management for conditions like epilepsy
- Mental health screening and treatment
Apparent Violations:
1. Chronic care failure: Epilepsy medication not properly managed (wrong meds, wrong doses)
2. Sick call failure: Noviello's complaints (not eating, depression) not escalated to appropriate care
3. Mental health referral not completed: Requested June 8, no evidence of follow-through
4. Emergency response failure: Visible deterioration (not eating, low body temp, low glucose) not recognized as medical emergency requiring hospitalization
4.4 Suicide Prevention and Intervention:
- Mental health screening at intake
- Staff training to recognize warning signs
- Immediate referral for at-risk detainees
Apparent Violations:
1. Depression + refusal of care = suicide risk indicators not acted upon
2. No evidence of enhanced monitoring after June 8 mental health concerns
FAMILY IMPACT¶
Angelo Noviello (Father, 80 years old)¶
Quote after learning of son's death:
"We are destroyed."
Family's Actions:
- Delivered epilepsy medication to facility
- Worked "painstakingly to make sure he got his meds"
- Unable to reach Johnny during detention (one brief call in 5 weeks)
- Medication returned unused after death
Family's Questions:
1. Did untreated epilepsy contribute to his death?
2. Why was he unreachable during detention?
3. Why wasn't he receiving proper medication?
4. Why did his condition deteriorate without intervention?
Family Concerns:
- Communication barriers prevented them from knowing he was in medical crisis
- ICE did not notify them of his deteriorating condition
- They could have advocated for better care if they had known
OFFICIAL RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION¶
ICE Statement¶
Released: June 26, 2025 (3 days after death)
- Acknowledged death at Federal Detention Center Miami
- Confirmed medical response (CPR, AED, 911)
- Stated cause of death "under investigation"
- Notified Canadian consulate
Canadian Government Response¶
Canadian Consular Officials:
- Pressing U.S. for more details
- Seeking clarity on circumstances of death
- Monitoring investigation
Canadian Concerns:
- Noviello was Canadian citizen
- Lived in U.S. legally for 37 years (since age 12)
- Death in federal custody requires full accounting
Investigations Underway¶
Federal Investigations:
1. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General - Notified (required)
2. ICE Office of Professional Responsibility - Internal investigation
3. Medical Examiner: Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office
- Autopsy conducted
- Report not yet public (can take up to 6 weeks from death)
- As of February 2026 (7+ months), cause of death still "under investigation"
90-Day Report Requirement:
- ICE required to publish detainee death report within 90 days (Congressional mandate, DHS Appropriations Bill 2018)
- Report was published (available at ice.gov)
- Report does NOT list cause of death - still pending
PATTERNS AND CONTEXT¶
2025 ICE Custody Deaths¶
Johnny Noviello = 10th death in ICE custody in 2025 (as of June 23)
Comparison to previous years:
- 2024: 12 deaths (entire year)
- 2025: 10 deaths by June 23 (halfway through year)
- 2025 pace: On track to be one of deadliest years in recent history
Florida Deaths in 2025:
- Noviello is 4th person to die in ICE custody in Florida in 2025
- Half of all ICE custody deaths in 2025 (as of June) occurred in Florida
Pattern: Medical Neglect¶
Common factors in ICE custody deaths (per ACLU report 2017-2021):
1. Inadequate medical care for chronic conditions
2. Delayed response to medical emergencies
3. Failure to follow ICE's own medical protocols
4. Poor documentation and monitoring
5. Lack of continuity of care
Noviello's case matches this pattern:
- Chronic condition (epilepsy) inadequately managed
- Deterioration observed but not escalated
- Protocols violated (medication, mental health referral)
- Poor monitoring (didn't recognize starvation/hypothermia)
Medication Access Crisis¶
System failure:
- Federal detention facility did not stock detainee's required epilepsy medication
- Underdosed substitute provided (75% of required amount)
- Family attempts to provide medication blocked
- No system to ensure continuity of medication for chronic conditions
This is a known problem:
- Human Rights Watch, ACLU, and other organizations have documented medication denials in ICE detention
- People with epilepsy, diabetes, HIV, mental illness particularly vulnerable
- Interruption of medication can be life-threatening
GAPS AND UNVERIFIED INFORMATION¶
What Remains Unclear:
- Cause of death - Medical Examiner report not released (7+ months after death)
- Full medical records - What happened between June 8 mental health referral and June 23 death?
- Medication administration logs - Did he actually receive the prescribed medications? Proof?
- Autopsy findings - Evidence of seizures? Cardiac event? Starvation? Suicide?
- Mental health evaluation - Was the June 8 referral ever completed?
- Daily welfare checks - Were they conducted? Who saw him deteriorating and did nothing?
- Family communication - Why was he unreachable except one call in 5 weeks?
- Accountability - Will anyone be held responsible for medical neglect?
- Timeline of deterioration - When did he stop eating? When did hypothermia begin? When did glucose levels drop dangerously?
- Video evidence - Does detention center have footage of his condition in days before death?
FINAL ASSESSMENT¶
Overall Confidence: HIGH
Confirmed Facts:
- Johnny Noviello, 49, Canadian citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, died June 23, 2025 in ICE custody
- Had epilepsy requiring daily medication (Klonopin, Tegretol)
- Facility did not stock Klonopin; underdosed Tegretol (75% of prescribed amount)
- Family worked to ensure medication access, was largely blocked from communication
- Day after arrest (May 16), reported seizures/convulsions - diagnosed with seizure disorder
- May 20: Noted "had not eaten in 'a while'"
- June 8: Reported depression, refused medical evaluation, mental health referral requested
- June 23: Found unresponsive with hypothermia (95.5°F), severe hypoglycemia
- ICE report: "had been deteriorating for a while and probably not eating enough"
- Pronounced dead at scene by Miami Fire Rescue (1:36 PM)
- Cause of death under investigation (no findings released 7+ months later)
Medical Neglect - HIGH Confidence:
- Epilepsy medication crisis: wrong medications, insufficient dosage, family medication rejected
- Malnutrition ignored: Not eating noted on Day 6, death from hypoglycemia on Day 39
- Mental health crisis ignored: Depression + refusal of care on June 8, no documented follow-up
- Prolonged deterioration: ICE's own report admits he was deteriorating - no intervention
- Hypothermia and severe hypoglycemia at death: indicators of prolonged medical crisis
Protocol Violations - HIGH Confidence:
- Chronic care management failure (epilepsy)
- Mental health referral not completed (June 8 request)
- Emergency medical response failure (deterioration not escalated to hospitalization)
- Possible suicide prevention protocol failures (if mental health evaluation had occurred)
Questions Requiring Investigation:
- Did inadequate seizure medication cause death (SUDEP, status epilepticus)?
- Did severe hypoglycemia trigger cardiac arrest?
- Was this medical neglect, or self-neglect enabled by inadequate monitoring?
- Why was a visibly deteriorating detainee not hospitalized?
- Where is the Medical Examiner's report?
Disclaimer:
This information was gathered from publicly available sources as of February 5, 2026. Cause of death remains under investigation. ICE and Medical Examiner reports reviewed where available. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Investigations ongoing. Use responsibly and verify independently before taking action.
Research completed: February 5, 2026
Total sources consulted: 20+ independent sources
Methodology: OSINT Cycle with Bellingcat-style verification
Confidence level: HIGH (facts), MEDIUM (causation - awaiting autopsy)
Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only