Jade Kothe Legal Defense Fund
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JUSTICE FOR JADE
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR JADE KOTHE
Family Fundraising Campaign
BEAUTIFUL BALLERINA SUFFERING OVERDOSE DIES AFTER WEST PALM BEACH POLICE OFFICER ABUSED HER AND FAILED TO RENDER AID
Jade Kothe, 20, a ballerina who aspired to one day own her own dance studio, died at her West Palm Beach, Florida residence on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at approximately 1:30 am.
Kothe is from Maryland and her family is represented by both J. Wyndal Gordon, Esq., of Baltimore, Maryland and Sekou Gary, Esq., of Gary, Williams Parenti, Watson & Gary P.L.L.C. of Stuart, Florida. Gordon can be reached at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] <mailto:%5Bemail%20redacted%5D> and Gary can be reached at [phone redacted] or
[email redacted] <mailto:%5Bemail%20redacted%5D>.
Campaign monitored by Erica Kane, Marcy Crump, The Flywire on behalf of parents Konan and Lana Rae.
The Legal Defense Fund was created by supporters of the family to help cover expenses that include but are not limited to: attorney and legal fees, private investigation and other costs during this traumatic fight for answers and justice for Jade.
Background
Jade, 20 years old, was artistic, caring and witty. She loved music. She was a delicate soul. Ballet was her passion and dance was a creative outlet for her. She was a star student at the prestigious Baltimore School of the Arts. Like many people, Jade struggled with anxiety and depression. On March 17th, 2020 she began to get mental health help and begin a rehabilitation program in Florida. She successfully competed approximately eight (8) weeks of treatment at two different facilities. She sounded happy, optimistic and seemed to be on a great path.
Unfortunately, Jade's family would never see her again.
The Incident
On the evening of the incident in question, her boyfriend admitted to supplying Jade with an opiate-based controlled dangerous substance. When she became lethargic, he called 9-1-1. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, her boyfriend and their eight (8) months pregnant landlord placed Jade into the landlord’s Chevy Tahoe (SUV) to transport her to the hospital, which was less than a mile away. Jade had a pulse and was minimally responsive.
As they were beginning to back out of the driveway, the first responding officer arrived on the scene, parking her police car behind the SUV, essentially blocking its path. Upon exiting her patrol car, she walked over to the SUV and opened the back door, aggressively snatching Jade out and allowing her to fall to the ground after striking her head on the interior door and then on the ground. There were no means for Jade to brace herself or break the fall.
According to witnesses on the scene (including the homeowner), the officers kept inquiring about Jade's race and refused to let them transport Jade to the hospital which was right down the road, less than a mile away. Once the officers were told she was Black and Latina, Jade was treated “like trash”. The family is being told that she could have been saved.
33 minutes had passed, and Jade ultimately died that morning in her front yard. She was left outside under the cover of a white sheet for hours.
It was also reported by eyewitnesses on the scene that as she lay on the ground deceased, an officer lifted the white sheet from her exposed body and commented "nice rack".
We want answers
The attorneys for the family believe Jade’s untimely death was preventable. It’s been weeks since her death and Jade’s family has not received further information about this incident besides what the police very recently gave to the media, which are incomplete details. At this point, WPBPD has yet to clear up many questions.
Where is the FULL police report? (Not the incomplete report that was given to the media)
Why does the police report say “Reporting Officer: Not Found”? Who reported this?
Why does the police report not start its story from the beginning of the incident? Why does the report start from the perspective of an officer who arrived in the middle of the incident? What time did he arrive? What happened before he arrived? What happened at the beginning?
What exactly happened during those 33 minutes before she was pronounced dead? The entire 33 minutes, not bits and pieces.
Why was only partial body cam footage released to the media? Where is the rest of the footage that shows the entire story, from all officers on the scene?
Why was it reported by eyewitnesses that an ambulance never arrived? Why does the police report not mention an ambulance at all?
Why did Jade never make it to the hospital, when she lived less than 1 mile away?
Why did the police officer park her car in a way that blocked the SUV’s path as it was about to take her to the hospital?
Why was she snatched from her vehicle and dumped to the ground?
Why she was not allowed to continue being transported to the hospital by the homeowner? Especially if there was no ambulance and no Naloxone immediately available.
Some of the incident details above are from eyewitness accounts of those who were on the scene as it was happening. Jade’s family had privately attempted to contact the police on multiple occasions for answers with no response, and their only choice at that time was to do their own investigation. After receiving public attention, the WPBPD has since released (to the media and not the parents) incomplete police reports and partial body cam footage, which leaves us with more questions than answers. The family and attorneys have been left to review what was released to the media because they have never personally received any documentation or information from the police department.
This is a very devastating and difficult time for the family, and they thank everyone for their love and outpouring of support. It is even more difficult considering that this all has happened out of state. We still need answers.
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR JADE KOTHE
Family Fundraising Campaign
BEAUTIFUL BALLERINA SUFFERING OVERDOSE DIES AFTER WEST PALM BEACH POLICE OFFICER ABUSED HER AND FAILED TO RENDER AID
Jade Kothe, 20, a ballerina who aspired to one day own her own dance studio, died at her West Palm Beach, Florida residence on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at approximately 1:30 am.
Kothe is from Maryland and her family is represented by both J. Wyndal Gordon, Esq., of Baltimore, Maryland and Sekou Gary, Esq., of Gary, Williams Parenti, Watson & Gary P.L.L.C. of Stuart, Florida. Gordon can be reached at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] <mailto:%5Bemail%20redacted%5D> and Gary can be reached at [phone redacted] or
[email redacted] <mailto:%5Bemail%20redacted%5D>.
Campaign monitored by Erica Kane, Marcy Crump, The Flywire on behalf of parents Konan and Lana Rae.
The Legal Defense Fund was created by supporters of the family to help cover expenses that include but are not limited to: attorney and legal fees, private investigation and other costs during this traumatic fight for answers and justice for Jade.
Background
Jade, 20 years old, was artistic, caring and witty. She loved music. She was a delicate soul. Ballet was her passion and dance was a creative outlet for her. She was a star student at the prestigious Baltimore School of the Arts. Like many people, Jade struggled with anxiety and depression. On March 17th, 2020 she began to get mental health help and begin a rehabilitation program in Florida. She successfully competed approximately eight (8) weeks of treatment at two different facilities. She sounded happy, optimistic and seemed to be on a great path.
Unfortunately, Jade's family would never see her again.
The Incident
On the evening of the incident in question, her boyfriend admitted to supplying Jade with an opiate-based controlled dangerous substance. When she became lethargic, he called 9-1-1. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, her boyfriend and their eight (8) months pregnant landlord placed Jade into the landlord’s Chevy Tahoe (SUV) to transport her to the hospital, which was less than a mile away. Jade had a pulse and was minimally responsive.
As they were beginning to back out of the driveway, the first responding officer arrived on the scene, parking her police car behind the SUV, essentially blocking its path. Upon exiting her patrol car, she walked over to the SUV and opened the back door, aggressively snatching Jade out and allowing her to fall to the ground after striking her head on the interior door and then on the ground. There were no means for Jade to brace herself or break the fall.
According to witnesses on the scene (including the homeowner), the officers kept inquiring about Jade's race and refused to let them transport Jade to the hospital which was right down the road, less than a mile away. Once the officers were told she was Black and Latina, Jade was treated “like trash”. The family is being told that she could have been saved.
33 minutes had passed, and Jade ultimately died that morning in her front yard. She was left outside under the cover of a white sheet for hours.
It was also reported by eyewitnesses on the scene that as she lay on the ground deceased, an officer lifted the white sheet from her exposed body and commented "nice rack".
We want answers
The attorneys for the family believe Jade’s untimely death was preventable. It’s been weeks since her death and Jade’s family has not received further information about this incident besides what the police very recently gave to the media, which are incomplete details. At this point, WPBPD has yet to clear up many questions.
Where is the FULL police report? (Not the incomplete report that was given to the media)
Why does the police report say “Reporting Officer: Not Found”? Who reported this?
Why does the police report not start its story from the beginning of the incident? Why does the report start from the perspective of an officer who arrived in the middle of the incident? What time did he arrive? What happened before he arrived? What happened at the beginning?
What exactly happened during those 33 minutes before she was pronounced dead? The entire 33 minutes, not bits and pieces.
Why was only partial body cam footage released to the media? Where is the rest of the footage that shows the entire story, from all officers on the scene?
Why was it reported by eyewitnesses that an ambulance never arrived? Why does the police report not mention an ambulance at all?
Why did Jade never make it to the hospital, when she lived less than 1 mile away?
Why did the police officer park her car in a way that blocked the SUV’s path as it was about to take her to the hospital?
Why was she snatched from her vehicle and dumped to the ground?
Why she was not allowed to continue being transported to the hospital by the homeowner? Especially if there was no ambulance and no Naloxone immediately available.
Some of the incident details above are from eyewitness accounts of those who were on the scene as it was happening. Jade’s family had privately attempted to contact the police on multiple occasions for answers with no response, and their only choice at that time was to do their own investigation. After receiving public attention, the WPBPD has since released (to the media and not the parents) incomplete police reports and partial body cam footage, which leaves us with more questions than answers. The family and attorneys have been left to review what was released to the media because they have never personally received any documentation or information from the police department.
This is a very devastating and difficult time for the family, and they thank everyone for their love and outpouring of support. It is even more difficult considering that this all has happened out of state. We still need answers.
Fundraising team: Team #JusticeForJadeKothe (2)
Erica Kane
Organizer
Raised $725 from 8 donations
Annapolis, MD
Konan Ellerbe
Beneficiary
Marcy Crump
Team member
Raised $1,375 from 7 donations
This team raised $2,764 from 78 other donations.
