Key facts
- Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington defended prison conditions after three inmate deaths.
- US Rep. Debbie Dingell raised concerns and requested detailed information on prison operations and deaths.
- Washington stated inmate grievances related to healthcare have been stable over the past five years.
- Investigations into the three recent deaths are ongoing, with no foul play suspected.
- The prison has faced allegations of toxic mold and inadequate medical care, which the department denies.
Heidi Washington, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections, has defended the conditions within the state's prisons, particularly a women's facility where three inmates died within a single month. The defense comes amid calls for her removal and follows a letter from U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell expressing alarm over the situation.
In a letter to Dingell, Washington asserted that her department has established itself as a national leader in corrections and that prisoner grievances are a common occurrence in a challenging environment. She noted that health care-related grievances have remained stable over the past five years, with 12 filed in 2021 and six so far this year. Grievances related to confinement have also been stable.
Dingell had urged Governor Whitmer to intervene, citing years of alarming reports about the treatment and conditions of women in custody at the facility. She requested detailed information, including grievance numbers, mold testing frequency, death statistics over the last decade, and the independence of death investigations.
The state did not provide the total number of deaths over the past decade but highlighted the prison's diverse population, including those with complex medical needs. However, the recent deaths of Ashley Hoath, Khaira Howard, and Rebecca Fackler, all within a month, are considered unusually high, especially compared to four deaths in all of 2025 and three in 2024.
Regarding investigations into the recent deaths, the department stated that all are conducted by an experienced investigator from its internal affairs division, who works with outside agencies like the Michigan State Police and medical examiners when necessary. Washington emphasized the investigator's independence from the facility. The department previously confirmed that foul play is not suspected in these cases and asked the public to await investigation results.
The prison has also faced allegations of toxic mold, inadequate medical care, and poor living conditions. The department has denied the presence of dangerous, systemic mold, citing an indoor air quality report by Mold Quest International that found airborne mold concentrations within normal parameters. While three of 243 indoor air samples showed minor fungal spore count elevations, these were marginally above outdoor levels.