The Alexander Bello-Ortiz Death Certification Accuracy and Accountability Act of 2025

Purpose

To ensure that deaths classified as suicide in the State of Florida undergo rigorous and impartial review procedures. This act—named in honor of Alexander Bello-Ortiz, a 21-year-old cadet whose death was prematurely ruled a suicide despite overwhelming contradictory evidence—seeks to prevent future investigative errors, safeguard grieving families, and restore integrity in the death certification process.

Background

Under current Florida law (§406.11), a single district medical examiner may certify the cause and manner of death—including suicide—without external review. This system lacks essential checks and balances, often leaving families helpless when they believe an error has been made.

Alexander Bello-Ortiz was found dead in 2020 under suspicious circumstances. Although evidence indicated potential foul play, including recorded audio implicating his roommate, local authorities certified the death as suicide. In December 2024, a federal jury found the roommate civilly liable for battery resulting in Alex’s death, awarding a $4 million judgment to his family. To date, the death certificate has not been amended and no criminal charges have been filed.

This act aims to prevent such injustices from recurring.

Key Provisions

1. Mandatory Dual Examiner Review for Suicide Classifications

Any death proposed to be ruled as suicide must be reviewed and agreed upon by two independent board-certified medical examiners.
If the second examiner disputes the finding, the case will be referred to a third examiner selected by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

2. Peer Review Requirement for Ambiguous or Contested Cases

In deaths with conflicting physical evidence, lack of mental health history, or contested eyewitness accounts, certification as suicide will require peer panel review before finalization.

3. Family-Initiated Review Rights

Families may formally request a case review by the Medical Examiners Commission within 180 days of certification.
The Commission must issue a decision within 90 days, and if warranted, facilitate further investigation or re-certification.

4. Transparency and Reporting Measures

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will publish an annual report listing:

1. The number of suicides reviewed or   amended
2. Statistics on family appeals
3. Oversight findings and recommendations

5. Preservation of Case Records

All suicide rulings and peer reviews must be retained for a minimum of 5 years. Digital and physical evidence relevant to contested rulings must also be archived.

Legislative Intent

This bill honors the memory of Alexander Bello-Ortiz and aims to close a dangerous gap in Florida’s death investigation system. No family should endure what Alexander’s family has faced: grieving while having to fight the very system meant to uncover the truth.