Michelle Morgan
Michelle Morgan, a mother and sister, died in custody at the Metro Detention Center in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Her family and estate, through their attorney Jason Wallace, say in a lawsuit filed October 21, 2022, that she showed jail staff clear signs she needed help and was at risk of harming herself. The lawsuit says an officer left a rope with her, that a counseling appointment was missed because of staffing shortages, and that emergency equipment was low on battery and did not work. The lawsuit names the county commissioners and the jail's medical contractor, Corizon Health, and the detention center said it does not comment on pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Michelle Morgan's family and estate, through their attorney in a lawsuit, allege staff ignored clear signs she was at risk of self-harm, left a rope in her cell with an officer's knowledge, missed a counseling appointment due to staffing shortages, and that emergency equipment was low on battery and did not work; the detention center declined to comment on pending litigation.
Reported by: Family and estate, through attorney Jason Wallace (lawsuit) (family or their lawyers); Metro Detention Center (the agency that held her).
Lawsuit: Her estate and family sued the Bernalillo County commissioners and jail medical contractor Corizon Health on October 21, 2022, alleging that staff ignored signs she was at risk of self-harm.