A third inmate has died at Michigan's Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in less than four weeks, deepening a crisis at the state's only women's prison that has drawn scrutiny over reported toxic mold, leaking roofs, poor ventilation, and inadequate medical care.
Ashley Hoath, 36, died June 6 after being transferred from the Pittsfield Township facility to Trinity Health Hospital. Her death follows those of Rebecca Fackler, 57, on May 17 and Khaira Howard, 28, on May 13. The Michigan Department of Corrections says investigations into all three deaths remain ongoing and that a cause of Hoath's death has not yet been determined.
The pressure on the facility intensified June 8 when U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer demanding immediate action and full transparency around any studies, inspections, or environmental assessments related to toxic mold and other health and safety conditions, with answers requested by June 19. Thirty state lawmakers from both parties separately signed a letter calling on MDOC Director Heidi Washington to resign, citing what they described as 'a pattern of denial, dishonesty, obfuscation, and obstruction.' State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, who has previously said women inside the facility were being asked to clean mold without proper protective equipment, called the leadership change a starting point rather than a fix. The Michigan Department of Corrections says it has commissioned third-party environmental testing and disputes characterizations of systemic toxic mold conditions.