Peter Antonacci, the individual chosen by Gov. Ron DeSantis to head the state’s newly established elections fraud office, collapsed and died in the governor’s office hallway on September 23, 2022, shortly after abruptly leaving a contentious meeting.
The fact that Antonacci, aged 74, had collapsed in the governor’s office was initially kept confidential. Authorities had originally stated that he died while working in the Capitol building, which includes the governor’s office.
Records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), obtained by Florida Bulldog, reveal that Antonacci remained on the hallway floor for over 20 minutes before anyone noticed and came to his aid. Surveillance footage, without audio, captured the incident.
When a Capitol police officer arrived a minute or two later and used an automated external defibrillator (AED), it indicated that no shock was necessary. The meeting Antonacci attended that day included officials such as Secretary of State James “Cord” Byrd and FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. The FDLE reports do not mention the meeting’s agenda or discussions.
At around 2:10 p.m., Commissioner Glass responded to Antonacci on the floor, initiating CPR with assistance from FDLE Chief of Staff Shane Desguin. The FDLE Capitol Police also joined, using the AED until emergency medical services arrived at approximately 2:11 p.m.
Requests for public records about the meeting sent to Secretary of State James “Cord” Byrd and the governor’s Office of Open Government have not received substantive responses.
Antonacci, previously Broward’s Supervisor of Elections, had been appointed by DeSantis in July 2022 to lead the Office of Election Crimes and Security. The FDLE reports include details about Antonacci’s attire but omit the identities of meeting attendees and fail to address why Antonacci lay undiscovered for an extended period.
The immediate question raised is whether quicker action could have saved Antonacci. Commissioner Glass mentioned an approximately 25-minute gap between Antonacci leaving the room and the discovery of his collapse. Glass observed Antonacci with a cut on his forehead and, upon checking for a pulse, found none.
The FDLE reports suggest an element of frustration from Antonacci during the meeting but do not delve into why he became upset.
Antonacci was pronounced dead at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital at 2:47 p.m. His widow and primary physician cited a history of heart disease and cardiac issues as contributing factors to his death. Despite this, a Florida medical examiner noted the unusual absence of an autopsy given the circumstances.
Gov. Chiles‘ death in 1998, which occurred at the executive mansion, was cited as a precedent where a medical examiner’s office was involved.
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