Deadly Detention: City's Inaction Leaves Family in Shock and Grief
In a tragic turn of events, the family of 20-year-old Ariel Quidone is suing the city for wrongful death after their loved one died from untreated appendicitis while incarcerated at Rikers Island. The young man was arrested on robbery charges just nine days prior to his demise, only to be released with his condition worsening.
The family's attorney, Marc Battipaglia, questions the legitimacy of such a preventable outcome, stating that "appendicitis is simple to cure if it's looked over properly." This stark contrast highlights the city's alleged failure to address Quidone's deteriorating health.
Qudone exhibited symptoms of appendicitis, including sweats and fevers, which went unaddressed for days in his custody at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island. Despite these warning signs, the correction officer assigned to watch over him did not approach him after noticing he was unwell.
The family alleges that Qudone's death was a direct result of medical negligence and civil rights violations under the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
According to a November 2025 report from the city's Board of Correction, surveillance video shows Qudone struggling in his final hours, with a correction officer failing to intervene after noticing his condition worsened.
The case is now set to unfold as the family seeks justice against the city, the Department of Correction, NYC Health and Hospitals, and its Correctional Health Services division. The federal government has also stepped in, with a court-appointed remediation manager poised to take over large parts of jail operations and implement long-overdue changes to reduce violence at Rikers Island.
As the city grapples with this avoidable tragedy, one thing is clear: the pursuit of justice for Ariel Quidone's family will not rest until accountability is met.
In a tragic turn of events, the family of 20-year-old Ariel Quidone is suing the city for wrongful death after their loved one died from untreated appendicitis while incarcerated at Rikers Island. The young man was arrested on robbery charges just nine days prior to his demise, only to be released with his condition worsening.
The family's attorney, Marc Battipaglia, questions the legitimacy of such a preventable outcome, stating that "appendicitis is simple to cure if it's looked over properly." This stark contrast highlights the city's alleged failure to address Quidone's deteriorating health.
Qudone exhibited symptoms of appendicitis, including sweats and fevers, which went unaddressed for days in his custody at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island. Despite these warning signs, the correction officer assigned to watch over him did not approach him after noticing he was unwell.
The family alleges that Qudone's death was a direct result of medical negligence and civil rights violations under the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
According to a November 2025 report from the city's Board of Correction, surveillance video shows Qudone struggling in his final hours, with a correction officer failing to intervene after noticing his condition worsened.
The case is now set to unfold as the family seeks justice against the city, the Department of Correction, NYC Health and Hospitals, and its Correctional Health Services division. The federal government has also stepped in, with a court-appointed remediation manager poised to take over large parts of jail operations and implement long-overdue changes to reduce violence at Rikers Island.
As the city grapples with this avoidable tragedy, one thing is clear: the pursuit of justice for Ariel Quidone's family will not rest until accountability is met.
... but also kinda feel that we're just gonna keep hearing the same stories over and over again because people don't want to acknowledge that the system is broken 
. I mean, how many times do we need to see someone die in custody before we take action? It's like we're not even learning from our mistakes 
.
, but hear me out. What if there are systemic issues that are even more entrenched than we realize? What if there's a lack of resources or training within the correctional system that's causing these tragedies to happen? 
.
I mean what kinda system lets this happen? The family is right though, appendicitis ain't rocket science, if you catch it early it's simple to fix 
and the fact that nobody checked on Ariel till he was basically dead is just disgusting 
the city needs to step up their game & actually take responsibility for this tragedy 
It's not right, the family deserves justice 
. The city needs to take responsibility for their actions 
and make sure something like this never happens again 
. This is a big step forward with the federal government getting involved 
, hopefully it leads to real change 
.
i mean, what's the point of even having a correctional health services division if they're not gonna do their job? 
can we please just make sure something like this never happens again?! 
. a court-appointed remediation manager is a good start, but it's not enough - we need systemic changes that prioritize inmates' health and safety over bureaucratic red tape 
. justice should be served ASAP 
.
it's just heartbreaking thinking about his family going through this 
and the city's inaction is just appalling 
I'm sending all my positive vibes to Ariel's family during this incredibly tough time 
hoping justice prevails for them, they deserve it 
But seriously, it's absolutely heartbreaking that Ariel's life was taken due to preventable medical negligence. The system failed him, and now his family has to bear the weight of grief and injustice. We need to make sure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions, so this kind of tragedy doesn't happen again.