JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now taking the lead on the investigation into the death of Charles Faggart, the Jacksonville father and chef who died after an incident in the Duval County Jail that led to the reassignment of nine officers in April.

The State Attorney’s Office has been investigating since Faggart was hospitalized April 7. His attorney said he was brain dead when he arrived at the hospital that day; he later died April 10.

In the days following Faggart’s death, JSO asked the FBI to assist in investigating the incident. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted its own internal investigation into the officers involved, which concluded July 7.

The SAO says since April, its own investigation has been working parallel to the FBI. However, as of Thursday, they announced the FBI will take the lead on the investigation.

The SAO’s statement says, in full: “Our office initiated an investigation into the death of Charles Faggart on April 7, 2025. In the days following Faggart’s death, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office asked the FBI to assist in the investigation of the incident. Since that time, our review has run parallel to the one conducted by our federal partner. After consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our federal partners will now take lead on this ongoing investigation.”

JSO said in a statement to First Coast News that “because the circumstances surrounding Charles Faggart’s death remain under investigation our agency cannot provide any additional information at this time.”

When the state and federal investigations have concluded, JSO will provide the public with a “complete briefing on the known facts and circumstances surrounding Mr. Faggart’s death,” the statement said.

The sheriff’s office concluded: “Our agency looks forward the conclusion of these investigations, so we can transparently share all available information with the public.”

Faggart died on April 10 after an “incident” left him critically injured at the Duval County Jail. He was a beloved father and a well-known local chef.

He was in custody for simple assault and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors. 

JSO released a redacted version of the incident report on April 14, and the exact circumstances that led to Faggart’s death remain unclear. 

Nine officers were reassigned after they were connected to the case, and they are currently subject to investigation.

The State Attorney’s Office says it has received his autopsy report from the Medical Examiner’s Office, but it is not releasing it publicly while the investigation is still ongoing. 

A jail incident report from the incident that led to Faggart’s death claimed he told jail officials he was on fentanyl. The incident report was written by one of the nine corrections officers currently under investigation by JSO, the State Attorney’s Office and the FBI for the incident.

However, Faggart’s attorney, Belkis Plata, released a statement saying that he was not.

“Medical professionals we consulted have reviewed Charles’s hospital records and confirmed that no fentanyl was detected in his system upon admission—contrary to statements in a police report alleging that Charles told officers he had taken fentanyl,” Plata said in a statement on behalf of the family. “That statement came from officers who are themselves under investigation, and we maintain that this claim is false.”