Advertisement Officers punished inmate for 'faking' illness hours before he died New details released in Orange County inmate's death Share Shares Copy Link Copy

WESH 2 News is investigating the jailhouse death of an Orange County man.According to jail records obtained by WESH 2 Investigates, Max Gracia, 22, was unable to get up from his bed and take his medication the night before he died. When jail officers told Gracia to get out of his bed, he "slowly went to the floor and lied on his back saying that he could not move anymore."Despite his agony, a nurse, who later resigned, determined Gracia's actions were an "implicit refusal for medication." The nurse also believed Gracia "was faking or exaggerating his medical condition and inability to get up."When supervisors arrived, Gracia was disciplined instead of being taken for treatment. He was charged with failing to follow orders and "feigning an illness." He was moved to another cell with a camera so officers could "better ascertain the validity of his proclaimed illnesses."Related: WESH 2 investigates Orange County inmate's deathGracia was found dead of septic shock a few hours later."They killed my son. They could have taken him out back and gunned him down," said Willine Gracia, Max Gracia's mother."They allowed my son to lay there. Torture, suffer and die," Willine Gracia said.Gracia was arrested after running from the police. He was accused of committing an armed robbery at a gas station. A K-9 used to help with the arrest latched on to him for three minutes. Gracia then escaped into a nearby lake with open bite wounds.At the jail, records show he was discharged from the infirmary without ever being evaluated.WESH 2 News asked jail officials why Gracia's cries for help were ignored.In a statement, WESH 2 News was told the following:"After Gracia's death, thorough medical review of his care was conducted by the Orange County Health Services Department. This review identified opportunities to improve processes and education for the Corrections Health Services Division."Gracia died of septic shock as a result of infected dog bite wounds. Since his death, the Orange County Jail has made some changes. Nurses were educated on how to identify sepsis and the number of times vital signs must be checked has increased.>>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android