Layleen Polanco’s Death Ruled Result of Epilepsy
Trans woman held in restrictive housing at Rikers Island, despite knowledge of her condition
BY MATT TRACY
The city’s Offi ce of the
Chief Medical Examiner
announced on July 30
that Layleen Xtravaganza
Cubilette-Polanco, a transgender
woman who was found dead
at Rikers Island on June 6, died of
seizures caused by epilepsy.
The medical examiner described
Polanco’s death as ”natural” and a
“sudden unexplained death in epilepsy
(SUDEP) due to or as a consequence
of mutation in CACNA1H
gene.” Chief Medical Examiner
Barbara Sampson said in a written
statement that genetic testing
showed a “biological mutation in
the CANNA1H gene which is the
likely cause of her epilepsy; variants
in this gene are associated
with seizures.”
Immediately following the announcement
of her cause of death,
an attorney representing Polanco’s
family told Gay City News via phone
that the family is still proceeding
with previously-announced plans
➤ STREET NAMING, from p.20
slowitz, who sponsored the renaming
on the City Council, as well as
other current and former members
of the Council. Connaughton’s two
brothers, Ken Connaughton, Jr.,
and Martin Connaughton, also attended.
to fi le a federal civil rights lawsuit
in response to her death.
“It’s ready to go,” said attorney
David Shanies, who noted that his
legal team is merely waiting for a
procedural hurdle to be cleared at
the Westchester surrogate court.
On the day she died, Department
of Correction (DOC) offi cials
found Polanco unconscious at 2:40
p.m. in her “restrictive housing”
cell, which is similar to solitary
confi nement. DOC offi cials told
Gay City News she was in restrictive
housing for assaulting another
incarcerated individual, but numerous
questions have been raised
regarding why she would be placed
in such housing when she suffered
from medical conditions.
Shanies noted in a written statement
on July 30 that Polanco’s epilepsy
“was well-known to DOC and
she suffered multiple seizures on
Rikers. On 5/30, a jail doctor approved
her placement in punitive
segregation, despite her epilepsy.
That became her death warrant.”
Polanco’s family, LGBTQ advocates,
FACEBOOK
Layleen Xtravaganza Cubilette-Polanco died of
seizures caused by epilepsy, according to the
Offi ce of the Chief Medical Examiner.
and others sought answers
for weeks and heard very little in
response, sparking frustration at
a June 26 City Hall rally . Shanies
fi rst announced on June 26 that
the family was “going to get the
answers ourselves” through the
aforementioned lawsuit.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
In the meantime, the death remains
under investigation by the
Bronx District Attorney’s offi ce
and the Department of Investigation.
Peter Thorne, who is the
deputy commissioner of public
information for the Department
of Correction, said the agency is
“participating fully” in that probe
and that the DOC hopes “that the
OCME’s determination helps provide
answers that Layleen’s family,
friends, and the city deserves.”
Polanco, who arrested for assault
and possession of a controlled
substance, was unable to afford
$500 bail. Her tragic death further
highlighted the marginalization
of trans women of color at a time
when a dozen black trans women
have suffered violent deaths in
the United States this year alone,
according to the Human Rights
Campaign.
“As painful as these revelations
are, they have fortifi ed the family’s
resolve to seek #JusticeForLayleen,”
Shanies said in a tweet on
July 30.
DONNA ACETO
Adelaide Connaughton’s longtime partner Lynn
Schulman and her brothers, Ken Jr. and Martin,
hold up the special street sign named in her
honor.
DONNA ACETO
City Councilmember Karen Koslowitz, who sponsored
the street-naming.
DONNA ACETO
Tom Duane, a former state senator and city
councilmember.
DONNA ACETO
Manhattan Councilmember Helen Rosenthal.
DONNA ACETO
The special street sign at the corner of Queens
Boulevard and 71st Road.
DONNA ACETO
Lynn Schulman in a quiet moment during the
ceremony in her late partner’s honor.
GayCityNews.com | August 1 - August 14, 2019 21
/GayCityNews.com
