Son of famous TikToker from Brooklyn dies in hospital after being held at Rikers for a week
She is now fighting to get answers about the death of her son, Ariel Quidone.
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A TikTok star is trying to get answers about her 20-year-old son who died at Elmhurst Hospital after being held at Rikers for a week.
Kim Quidone, better known as Kracking Up With Kim, went viral on TikTok after she began documenting her sobriety journey.
She is now fighting to get answers about the death of her son, Ariel Quidone.
"My son didn't deserve this he was only 20 years old," said Kim Quidone, Ariel Quidone's mother.
Quidone was sent to Rikers Island March 7 awaiting to face a judge following a robbery charge. Five days later, he was set to see a judge, but he never showed up and never called.
"I was really worried and concerned." said Kaylin Quidone, Ariel's older sister.
His sister said after not hearing from her brother or getting answers from Rikers, she went on incarcerated lookup to find he was at the Elmhurst Hospital prison ward.
The family is waiting for the official cause of death, but Scott Rynecki, the family's lawyer, says Quidone's death possibly could have been avoided.
"To the extent that he had peritonitis and large abscess and gangrene indicates that something was going on here for three or four days at least," said Rynecki, from Rubenstein and Rynecki law firm.
Quidone was pronounced dead on March 15. The family says he was released from DOC custody on the 14.
The Department of Corrections sent News 12 the following statement:
“A person in our custody experienced a medical emergency on March 13 and aid was quickly provided until he could be transported to Elmhurst Hospital. The following day, he was released from DOC custody while he received medical treatment. We cannot comment on someone’s medical status once they are no longer in DOC’s custody. Our concern for the wellbeing of people in our care is primary.”
"I think this is just semantics. They're going to try and respond and say he did not pass away in our custody," said Rynecki.
Rynecki says they're filing an order to show cause, which is an application to preserve evidence, to hopefully get answers.
"I want my brother's name to live on. We want answers." said Kaylin.The DOC says three people have died in its custody since the beginning of this year.
