Authorities are investigating the death of a Bronx Family Court judge who was pulled unconscious and dying from his Cobble Hill, Brooklyn apartment last night.
Fernando Silva, 51, who sources said had struggled with depression, alcoholism, and poor health, was rushed to the hospital just before 6:30 p.m. after his partner of two decades found him collapsed on the floor of their Garnett Street address.
Silva had gone into cardiac arrest, officials said.
“My baby’s gone,” the distraught partner, Joseph Fitzsimmons, 34, cried to a reporter at the apartment today.
Fitzsimmons, who was walking the couple’s dog, Max, collapsed onto a nearby stoop, sobbing. He said he had spoken with police about the death, and was waiting to learn from them what the cause of death was.
“We’ve been together for 18 years,” Fitzsimmons said through his tears.
It was Fitzsimmons’ screams that had alerted neighbors, who called 911 to the scene. Silva was taken to Methodist hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Medical officials were running toxicology tests and planned an autopsy for tomorrow; blood recovered from the scene, along with bruises on the judge’s neck and chest were being investigated, but appeared to have been caused by a fall.
A graduate of Catholic University and Boston College, he has worked for the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division, where he served as attorney in charge. He subsequently served as a principal court attorney for 16 years in Family and Supreme Court.
Silva was appointed a civil court judge in 2010, and handled difficult juvenile matters including custody, foster placement and delinquency.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona and Laura Italiano