WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Monday marks the two-year anniversary of the death of Robert "Ethan" Saylor, a young man with Down syndrome who died after being restrained by off-duty officers at a movie theater in Maryland.
WUSA9's Debra Alfarone spoke to Ethan's mother, Patti, about the lawsuit and the success of the first-ever Maryland Commission for Effective Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities that was started in Ethan's honor.
For more on the lawsuit read: Lawsuit moves forward in death of Ethan Saylor
"We don't have a detailed account of what happened that night. That is one of the reasons a family must file a lawsuit to compel those details to come out. We don't have details, we only have what the police report has said and what the witnesses who have come forth have said," Patti said about her struggle for answers.
Patti says she won't stop in her personal fight for justice and answers, but she also won't stop fighting to make people with intellectual disabilities like Ethan feel included in their communities and feel safe.
"Justice is not letting this ever happen again to someone like Ethan or to officers who were involved in this," Patti said.
The next step of the commission is to work on getting all police officers in Maryland trained, not just new recruits. The justice department has launched an investigation into Ethan's death as well.
People gathered at a vigil at Baker Park Bandshell near the corner of North Bentz St and W 2nd St in Frederick, Md. at 6:30 p.m. Speakers included his mother Patti, the President of the National Down Syndrome Society, Sara Weir, and others.
Later this month there will be a rally, organized by Professor Len Latkovski of Hood College, at the Frederick County Courthouse. The rally will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 23. Then, the documentary about Ethan's life will be previewed at Hood College at 7 p.m.
Twenty-six-year-old Saylor and his aide went to the movies on January 12, 2013 to see Zero Dark Thirty. They bought two tickets. When it was over, the aide left to get the car, Ethan went back inside because he wanted to see the film again. He did not have a ticket for the second showing.
He verbalized to the officers his intent to remain and refused to leave his seat. Ethan was restrained face-down by three off-duty Frederick's County Sheriff's deputies who were working second jobs as security guards at the theater. He later died.
A medical examiner ruled Ethan Saylor's death a homicide by asphyxiation.
The three off-duty sheriff's office deputies who were involved in the incident that led to Ethan's death were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. A grand jury found no wrongdoing on the part of those deputies. Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins continued to stand by his deputies.
RELATED: Sheriff speaks in Ethan Saylor case
Saylor's family filed a lawsuit against the three deputies, the Frederick County Sheriff's Department, Regal Cinema and the property manager for negligence in regards to Ethan's death. The lawsuit cited that negligence caused Saylor to die a "violent, terrifying, and painful" death.
Many joined his family in asking Maryland's governor for an investigation into Ethan's death.
Sara Weir with the National Down Syndrome Society in D.C. asked Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley for an independent investigation. She said, "Governor O'Malley, we need you to appoint a special prosecutor to look into Ethan's tragic death. It was a wrongful death. He shouldn't have been put in that situation. There are many ways we could have de-escalated the situation and we need you to take action."
The governor's office started working with disability advocates to see what could be done to prevent similar tragedies. The justice department started its own investigation.
Additionally, WUSA9 learned that Ethan Saylor may not have even needed a $12 ticket at all. Maryland Delegate and then-Democratic gubernatorial candidate Heather Mizeur, who also wrote to O'Malley to ask for help, told us, "It turns out that under the ADA laws, a caretaker doesn't need to have a ticket with someone with a disability at a movie theater anyway, so the two tickets that were purchased for Ethan and his caretaker would have been sufficient for him to stay a second time."
A petition for Ethan Saylor gained more than 300,000 signatures.
MORE:
In the end, the Commission for Effective Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is started. Its first task was to see if there was a statewide model for training that proved effective and could be replicated. They did not find one, the commission members said in their report.
The report also recommended that training should expand past police to hospitals, courts, schools, and other institutions.
Commission Chair Tim Shriver says the training needs to incorporate the people who will benefit most from it, "We see marshaling the gifts of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as agents of education not just as recipients of services but as trainers."
Ethan Saylor's mother has been an inspiration for many people in her fight to get an investigation into the incident and advocating for the those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In February 2014, The National Down Syndrome Society honored Patti Saylor for her tireless advocacy on behalf of people with Down syndrome. WUSA9 reporter Debra Alfarone presented the award to Saylor.
Patti Saylor said, "I am tireless in my advocacy for him, but I'm not doing this alone. There's a full machine of people behind me, with me and holding me up. It is bittersweet. I wouldn't call it a celebration."
Patti Saylor testified before the US Senate, sharing her story about her son's tragic death in the hopes that changes will be made to how law enforcement responds to disabled Americans. "I am confident that this hearing will help save the lives of individuals with intellectual and development disabilities in the future. I look forward to sharing Ethan's story and ensuring his legacy lives on for others with Down syndrome and other disabilities." said Patti Saylor before the hearing.
Patti Saylor told senators, "The officers proceeded to physically remove him from the theater, dragged him from his seat, tried to handcuff him, when that didn't work while he was standing, they placed him on the ground, prone restraint, put handcuffs on, and my son died of asphyxiation on that floor of that movie theater."
Patti was one of five people in a panel who got to share their testimony, "I want to tell you that I'm here as a grieving mother, it's been 14 months, I'm not sure that will ever stop."
WUSA 9 was inspired to take a stand for Ethan, encouraging others to use the hash tag #StandForEthan on Twitter and Facebook. We're supporting Ethan's family and friends by not letting his death be forgotten.
Reporter Debra Alfarone continues to follow this story. She wrote about Patti Saylor, "When you meet someone like that, who channels their grief into action, who inspires others to be better people, who embodies strength, you have to share their story. I hope you'll share hers." Here, she shares how the story has stuck with her.
