Few details on 3 deaths of ‘medical’ nature

District of Columbia police did not release further details Thursday about the deaths of Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Ga., Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Ala., and Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown, Penn., all of whom officials say died of “medical emergencies” during the rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

Relatives of two of the three said they had not gone to Washington expecting to participate or be caught up in violence. But the social media posts of one advocated that people take up arms, and posts by another showed a belief in the false allegations of election fraud spread by President Donald Trump and his allies.

Greeson’s wife, Kristi Greeson, said her husband’s only goal was to show support for Trump.

“He was not there to participate in violence or rioting, nor did he condone such actions,” she said in a statement on behalf of his family. Her husband, who worked as a salesman in the steel and aluminum industry, “had a history of high blood pressure, and in the midst of the excitement, suffered a heart attack,” she added.

But Greeson appeared to have an account on the rightwing social media site Parler filled with recent obscene and violent posts, fueled by misinformation spread by right-wing radio host Mark Levin, the Proud Boys and others.

Boyland’s family did not respond to messages seeking comment. But a Facebook page belonging to a Rosanne Boyland in Kennesaw features several pro-trump posts and includes a false assertion that District Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, ordered hotels and other businesses to close in advance of Wednesday ’s rally.

“For all Patriots heading to D.C. bring EXTRA food, water, blankets, supplies and have a plan where to sleep,” the Jan. 3 post reads.

The page also voices anger over the presidential election results.

Philips, the 50-year-old from Pennsylvania, was a computer programmer and an ardent Trump supporter.

He had helped to organize transportation for dozens of people traveling from Pennsylvania to the District, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday, but after arriving in the city on Wednesday, left the group.

When it was time to drive back home, people who had traveled with him said they received a call from District police informing them that Philips had suffered a stroke and died at George Washington University Hospital, the Inquirer reported.