A Michigan woman, Brandi Crawford, has filed a civil negligence lawsuit in Sarasota County against a security guard and his firm, alleging they ignored signs of distress before her father, Kirk Schonwald, was found dead inside his McCowan Towers apartment.
Background
Schonwald died on June 20, 2024, after a neighbor contacted a security guard with TRVST Inc., reporting that water was flooding through the complex and appeared to be coming from Schonwald’s home. The guard entered the apartment and found Schonwald sitting on the toilet with water overflowing from a clogged sink, but claimed he was okay despite signs of medical distress.
The next morning, Schonwald was found dead in the exact same spot. The civil filing states the guard failed to inform the housing authority and did not call for help despite Schonwald’s known medical history and past hospital visits.
Seeking Accountability
Crawford said, ‘I just want justice for my dad.’ Her attorney, Darren Finebloom, noted that Crawford wants to know what happened to her father, which they believe could have been preventable.
TRVST Inc. is no longer contracted by the Sarasota Housing Authority, and the company’s agency chief responded to FOX 13, saying he believes the lawsuit has ‘no merit.’ The civil case remains in the discovery phase within the Sarasota County court system, and no trial date has been set.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
