Less than three hours after a 62-year-old Aurora inmate was released from a hospital, he was found dead in his cell bunk early Saturday morning, officials say.
A coroner will determine what caused Anthony “Tony” DeDora’s death, but his ex-wife, Darlene DeDora, is already asking why he didn’t get more care.
“There’s no way they should have released him,” she said. “They should have noticed the signs of his stomach bloated out. That’s not normal. Is it because he didn’t have health insurance?”
In a statement issued by spokeswoman Tracy Weiss, Medical Center of Aurora said the case was being fully reviewed.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. DeDora,” the statement said.
The hospital confirmed he was treated and released but said no additional information could be provided.
“We take great pride in always providing the best possible care to all of our patients,” the statement said.
Darlene DeDora acknowledged that Tony DeDora is the victim of his own excessive drinking, spurred by personal blows that included a succession of failed businesses, a divorce and the impending expiration of unemployment benefits.
When police and paramedics went to his home Friday afternoon, Tony DeDora was confused, his ex-wife says, and had tried to wear a cat’s bed as a hat. He was checking how it looked in a mirror.
Darlene DeDora said her husband once had a responsible job as a manager of an Albertson’s grocery store in California.
“He felt really important,” she said. “He was really good at what he did. He felt good about buying a nice home and having a nice car.”
The DeDoras moved to Boca Raton, Fla., where in early 2001 they opened Palmero’s Gourmet Market.
But, relying largely on a tourist clientele, their young business was hurt after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks put a damper on U.S. air travel.
The DeDoras declared bankruptcy a month after the attacks and moved to Colorado. They soon opened the Brighton Village Market and also Anthony’s Supermarket in Sterling.
“But we couldn’t make it,” Darlene DeDora said. “He was out of a job. We’re old and we couldn’t find a job. He applied everywhere. He didn’t feel like a man. His whole life he was a businessman.”
Tony DeDora became an alcoholic, Darlene DeDora said. She filed and obtained a domestic violence restraining order against her husband, saying he was physically abusive. They divorced about 1 1/2 years ago, but continued living together in the same home in separate rooms.
“We didn’t have enough money to live apart,” she said.
As his unemployment benefits were running out, Tony DeDora began to drink even more. The past few days “he was drunk out of his mind” and his belly swelled. He began defecating throughout her home and was aggressive. Darlene DeDora called police Friday afternoon.
Zelda DeBoyes, director of the Aurora Detention Center, said police arrested Tony DeDora for violation of the restraining order. They walked him down his stairs, one paramedic on either side of him so he wouldn’t fall.
“I told them his belly was really huge. It looked like he was pregnant,” Darlene DeDora said.
DeDora said she wants answers.
“Why would they release him when he was sick? They just threw him to the wolves.
“If he had insurance, I’m sure he’d be alive today,” she said.
Tony DeDora arrived at the hospital by 4 p.m., DeBoyes said. A doctor signed his release shortly after midnight, and he was driven to the jail by 12:50 a.m., she said. An officer making regular checks noticed that DeDora wasn’t breathing at about 2:35 a.m. He was rushed by ambulance back to the hospital, where he was declared dead by 3:18 a.m., she said.
“My heart goes out to this gentleman’s family,” DeBoyes said.
Denver Post staff writer Jordan Steffen contributed to this report.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
