Ron DeSantis' election fraud chief lay dying on the floor of the state Capitol for 24 minutes before someone ran to help him, a new report has revealed.
Peter Antonacci died of a heart attack on September 23, 2022 - less than three months after DeSantis had appointed him director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security.
Antonacci, 74, had 'a long history of heart disease and cardiac issues that resulted in several surgeries,' according to the report into his death, obtained by Florida Bulldog.
'At approximately 1:46 p.m., Mr. Antonacci is observed standing up and walking out of the conference room [redacted],' the report by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement states.
Peter Antonacci is seen on August 18, 2022 - having been appointed as election chief the month before. He would die of a heart attack on September 23
Antonacci died inside the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee (pictured)
Antonacci is visibly unwell, the report states.
'He steadies himself on the left wall. The hall [redacted] when he falls and appears to strike his head on the door on the [redacted] (sic).
'There appeared to be no foul play in the Room (sic) or hallway.'
Despite the drama of his collapse, no one in the building notices that Antonacci is lying on the floor for 24 minutes.
'At approximately 2:10:05pm, FDL Comm. [Mark] Glass appears to notice Antonacci down the hallway to his aid (sic).'
Glass, an FDLE Commissioner and former deputy director of the Capitol Police, said he left the meeting to speak to General Counsel Ryan Newman when he noticed Antonacci.
'Commissioner Glass stated when looking down the hallway he observed what appeared to be dark slacks and black shoes laying on the ground toes face down,' the report states.
'Commissioner Glass stated he observed from the hip back and he looked at General Counsel Newman asking if that was Mr Antonacci who was in the meeting.
'Commissioner Glass stated General Counsel Newman and he ran over there, immediately rolled the subject over and identified him as Mr Antonacci.'
Antonacci, 74, had a long history of heart trouble
Glass and Newman called for help from the FDLE chief of staff, Shane Desguin.
The three men tried to revive Antonacci with chest compressions and a defibrillator, but by this point Antonacci's face was 'purple and blue', Antonacci said.
An unnamed caller, the report said, told 911 operators that Antonacci was not awake and needed CPR.
The report said police arrived at 2:11pm and used an automated external defibrillator to try and save him.
It added that at 2:34pm: 'The male subject was transported by Leon County Emergency Medical Services to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH) were he was pronounced deceased by medical staff.
'Initial investigation indicated that the death was the result of a medical condition.'
DeSantis announced his death, and praised his years of service.
Ron DeSantis announced Antonacci's death and praised his decades of work
'He (Antonacci) was a dedicated, tenacious, and assiduous public servant, lawyer, and respected professional – a friend to all in the State of Florida,' said DeSantis in the statement.
Antonacci had a decades-long resume in state government serving under Democrats and Republicans.
He was appointed to various positions by Govs. Bob Graham, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis and served as deputy attorney general under Democratic Attorney General Bob Butterworth from 1991-1997.
His positions included statewide prosecutor, CEO of Enterprise Florida, a member of the Ethics Commission and executive director of the South Florida Water Management District.
Senator Rick Scott, who appointed Antonacci to several position during his two terms as governor before running for the U.S. Senate, said Antonacci was a dedicated public servant and a devoted family man.
'Pete was a proud Floridian, raised in Hialeah, and devoted decades of his life to serving Florida families as a prosecutor, master of the law and leader,' Scott said in a statement.
Both DeSantis and Scott attended his funeral, which was addressed by Antonacci's daughters Alexis Lambert and Claudia Hadjigeorgiou.