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Died in prison

Janika Edmond

25 years old · died November 8, 2015 · Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Washtenaw County, Michigan

Janika Edmond, 25, wrote letters describing her wish to improve herself, her interest in becoming a cosmetologist, her work toward a GED, and her enjoyment of drawing, long walks and movies. She died in November 2015 at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, where she was held; staff found her injured in a segregation shower unit and she died days later at a hospital. The Michigan Department of Corrections death report lists the death as presumed suicide. Her family's attorney says she had told staff she was suicidal and asked for a suicide-prevention vest, and that staff ignored those requests; the family's lawsuit alleges two guards bet on whether she would kill herself. Prosecutors charged a former corrections officer with involuntary manslaughter and willful neglect of duty, and the family's lawsuit was settled for $860,000 in 2019.

Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The MDOC death report and death certificate list suicide, while the family's attorney and lawsuit say staff ignored her requests for a suicide-prevention vest, left her unattended after she said she would try again, and guards bet on whether she would kill herself.

Reported by: Michigan Department of Corrections (the agency that held her); Washtenaw County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Michigan State Police (outside investigators); family attorney David Steingold (family or their lawyers); family lawsuit; Washtenaw County prosecutors.

Lawsuit: Her estate sued the Michigan Department of Corrections and several employees, and a federal judge approved an amended settlement of $860,000 in 2019.

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