70-year-old inmate dies of natural causes at the Alachua County Jail

Press release from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 70-year-old inmate at the Alachua County Jail has died of natural causes.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, detention officers with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Department of the Jail observed a 70‑year‑old individual in custody, Mr. Ernest Gent, who was displaying signs consistent with a potential medical illness. Based on these observations, trained medical personnel from the infirmary were summoned to check on Mr. Gent.

During the night, Mr. Gent experienced a medical crisis, becoming unconscious and ceasing to breathe. Detention officers and medical staff initiated life‑saving measures while notifying the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center to dispatch Alachua County Fire Rescue.

Mr. Gent was transported to the UF Health Emergency Department, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Members of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Office of Professional Standards, and Forensics Team responded to both the Department of the Jail and UF Health to begin a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Mr. Gent’s death, while tragic, preliminarily appears to be due to natural causes. The 8th Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office has assumed this case and will be conducting an autopsy to determine Mr. Gent’s cause of death.

Sheriff Scott acknowledges that any loss of life is tragic and deeply felt by the friends, family, and loved ones of Mr. Gent. Our thoughts are with those affected as they mourn his loss.