Joshua Aldrich
Joshua Aldrich, 26, was a family-oriented man who worked as a landscaper in Bay and Saginaw counties and enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews, according to his obituary. His mother, Janet Bates, described him as a loyal man who was always willing to help others, and he died four days before his son was born. Officers found him on the floor of his cell at the Saginaw County Jail around 1 a.m. on December 15, 2021, and he was pronounced dead about 1:45 a.m. His estate's federal wrongful death lawsuit says jail staff and nurses ignored his worsening condition after he swallowed methamphetamine, and that he was not checked on for long stretches, while the undersheriff said there was no sign of foul play and the sheriff said toxicology results were still pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). His estate's federal lawsuit says he died of an overdose after swallowing methamphetamine and that jail staff ignored his worsening condition and skipped checks for hours, while the autopsy reportedly listed the manner as accidental and the sheriff's office said toxicology results were still pending.
Reported by: his estate's attorneys and family, in a federal wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); autopsy results as reported in the lawsuit.
Lawsuit: His estate and family sued Saginaw County and six jail employees in federal court over his death in a wrongful death complaint, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (6)
- Inmate dies at Saginaw County Jail hours after being arrested, day before he was to be sentenced
- Inmate found dead in the Saginaw County Jail early Wednesday
- Cause of Saginaw County Jail inmate’s death waiting on toxicology analysis
- Wrongful death lawsuit filed for man who overdosed in Saginaw County jail
- Family files lawsuit after man's death in Saginaw County Jail
- Lawsuit alleges Saginaw County Jail staff’s indifference caused Bay City inmate’s death