Overview
- The third inmate death at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility occurred Saturday when Ashley Hoath was taken from the prison health unit to Trinity Health Hospital and died hours later.
- Family members and other inmates say staff were asked for help for hours before Hoath was moved to the hospital, raising fresh claims of delayed or inadequate medical care.
- The Michigan Department of Corrections says it is conducting a mortality review, has ordered independent autopsies and is carrying out administrative policy reviews to determine whether staff followed procedures.
- Advocates and about 30 state lawmakers are calling for MDOC Director Heidi Washington to step down and are pressing for an independent investigation, while Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has sought more information and contacted the governor.
- Former and current prisoners have long complained of black mold, staffing shortfalls and limited access to medical care at Huron Valley, and families have retained private law firms to pursue separate probes and records.