Michael Ray
Michael Ray, 47, was held in pretrial detention at the Bristol County jail in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The Bristol County district attorney's office said he was found hanged in his cell in June 2017 and was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, and that he was found alone. His fiancé, Kellie Pearson, said he struggled with addiction and mental health problems and tried to get help while he was held, and a state police report cited problems including non-working cameras in his unit. In a later lawsuit against the sheriff and the phone provider, Pearson said that phone calls with him were crucial to his well-being.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The district attorney's office and a state police report say he hanged himself in his cell, while his fiancée Kellie Pearson says he sought help for addiction and mental health problems without success and his lawsuit against the sheriff and Securus says the cost of phone calls cut him off from family.
Reported by: Bristol County district attorney's office (outside investigators); State Police report (outside investigators); Kellie Pearson, his fiancée and partner (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Kellie Pearson, his partner, sued the Bristol County sheriff and the phone provider Securus over the cost of his calls, and no amount is reported.