Sean Levert, son of lead O’Jays singer Eddie Levert and a member of a hit-making trio with his late brother Gerald Levert, has died after a medical emergency in jail.Sean Levert, 39, was taken from the Cuyahoga County jail in Cleveland about 11 p.m. Sunday and died within the hour at Lutheran Hospital, said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County’s coroner’s office. Levert was sentenced last week to one year and 10 months in jail for failing to pay $85,000 in child support.An autopsy to determine the cause of death began this morning, Caesar said. Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail, Caesar said. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks.Warden Kevin McDonough said Levert had been sick and guards were watching him at the jail’s regular cellblock because he had been acting strangely. He declined to be more specific about Levert’s medical condition.
“There was nothing that would show any of this,” McDonough said. “He had an illness while he was here and it turned into an emergency at that time.”
Gerald Levert was 40 when he died in 2006 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
The Levert brothers and childhood friend Marc Gordon formed the R&B trio LeVert. Their hits included “(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind” and “Casanova.”
Gerald Levert launched his solo career in 1991 but occasionally performed with his LeVert partners. Sean Levert found a new third partner last year and was involved trying to revive the group.
At Gerald Levert’s funeral service on Nov. 17, 2006, Sean Levert and his father performed “Dance With My Father” and personalized the words for Gerald.
Last week, Sean Levert pleaded guilty to six counts of nonsupport in cases dating back to 2005 and 2007 and children ages 11, 15 and 17.
Our prayers go out to the family..
Levert’s family asks FBI to probe death
The family of R&B singer Sean Levert wants the FBI to look into his death after a jail medical emergency.
His cousin, Michael Gibson, said Levert never had any outburst such as the type described by Kevin McDonough, warden at the Cuyahoga County jail.
The 39-year-old Levert died Sunday night at a hospital after he was taken from the county jail where he was serving a one year and 10 months sentence for failure to pay $89,025 in child support.
McDonough said Levert was pounding on his cell door so guards strapped him in a restraint chair; Levert’s breathing became shallow and he was taken to Lutheran Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.
An autopsy did not determine the cause of death. Toxicology tests are expected to take weeks.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson says agents would meet with Levert’s family.
Sean and his brother Gerald Levert, who died in 2006 at age 40 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, formed LeVert in the 1980s with childhood friend Marc Gordon. Their hits included “Baby I’m Ready,” “(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind” and “Casanova,” which was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. It was also nominated for best R&B song.
Gerald Levert left the group to start a solo career.
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