Martha Stanley
Martha Stanley, 59, died in May 2018 while held at the Wayne County Jail. Her son, Arthur Simpson, said she had a heart condition and needed medical treatment, and the family was trying to get her out of jail. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said she went into cardiac arrest, and the medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Her family believes jail conditions, including a broken air conditioning system during a heat wave, contributed to her death, while the county says it does not believe the lack of air conditioning played a role.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said she went into cardiac arrest and does not believe the broken air conditioning during a heat wave played a role, while her family believes the jail conditions led to her death.
Reported by: Wayne County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held her); her family.