Dear Supporters,
Thank you for standing with me in this uphill battle. Today, I’m taking a bold step forward in pursuit of truth and accountability in my son Shawn Fortune’s death at the Pittsburgh Job Corps center.
For too long, families have been left in the dark — while public officials with prestigious titles and professional reputations avoid scrutiny. Not anymore.
🔍 WHO’S INVOLVED IN THIS COVER-UP?
🕵🏾♂️ Detective Ed Fallert — Allegheny County Homicide Division
• Fallert was one of the first officers involved after Shawn was found deceased.
• He told me Shawn's head swelling was due to the autopsy, contradicting photo evidence and EMS documentation that showed blood pooling around the head and visible trauma.
• He also asserted there was fentanyl involved before any toxicology report was released — planting a narrative.
• He still has Shawn’s phone, which he never returned or included in reports. Why?
🩺 Dr. Dre Hellman — Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office
• Though Stephanie Ballard was the one who called me, it was Dr. Dre Hellman who signed the final autopsy, ruling the cause of death “acute fentanyl intoxication.”
• He failed to list or explain the neck contusion found on Shawn’s body.
• Designer fentanyl analogs, methamphetamine, and blood patterns at the scene were omitted or downplayed.
🎓 Bob Gottschalk — Director of Pittsburgh Job Corps
• The man in charge when Shawn arrived at the center and tragically passed just 2 days later.
• Despite being responsible for the campus and its vulnerable students, no statement, transparency, or concern has come from his office.
• Job Corps says they “don’t have power,” yet somehow nobody can explain what really happened inside those walls.
💵 FOLLOW THE MONEY: The Insurance Questions No One Is Answering
Here’s what we’re now asking — and you should too:
• Do Job Corps, police departments, and coroner’s offices carry insurance policies that profit from deaths?
• Could they hold "key employee insurance", federal tort coverage, or liability protection policies that are triggered by institutional death incidents?
• Is this why they are so quick to declare overdose deaths and close the case—without full accountability?
From what we’ve gathered, many federally funded programs are covered under contractor liability insurance and self-insured risk pools. These policies often discourage external litigation and make it nearly impossible to sue without an airtight case.
That’s why this reeks of systematic shielding.
🔒 Why Their Clean Records Mean Nothing
When you search these names online, you’ll find:
• No misconduct reports.
• No complaints.
• Only awards, promotions, and polished bios.
But you won’t find anything linking them to my son’s case — despite their direct involvement. Why is Shawn’s name not publicly connected to them? Why are they not answering questions?
That’s exactly how cover-ups are maintained.
🧩 CONNECTING THE DOTS
This isn’t just about Shawn. It’s about:
• Every vulnerable young person in these institutions.
• Every family told a version of “he just overdosed.”
• Every mother grieving while nobody is held accountable.
We’re exposing a pattern. We’ve seen it before in detention centers, mental health facilities, and now Job Corps.
The Facebook login attempt, the missing phone, the bloody scene, and the rush to blame fentanyl—all without clear evidence—speak volumes.
✊🏾 WHAT YOU CAN DO
📢 Share this update.
📝 Comment and sign the petition if you haven’t.
📲 Tag the DOJ, Dept. of Labor, and Allegheny County officials.
💰 Support our GoFundMe to help us relocate and stay safe.
This update marks a turning point. We’re no longer waiting quietly. We are speaking truth — and we will be heard.
With resolve,
Trishawnna Dandridge
Mother of Shawn Fortune
#JusticeForShawn
Click here for the video 📹 update