Willie T. Smith III
Willie T. Smith III, 50, was a Navy veteran who ran marathons and took care of his health, and his loved ones describe him as caring and funny. He was the protector of his family, the oldest brother of his sister and the fiancé of Merari Sosa Cordero, with whom he had an eight-year-old son. He was found dead in his cell at the Detroit Detention Center on the morning of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, days after he was taken into custody, following a hospital visit for hip pain earlier that day and his return to the jail. Detroit Police said there does not appear to be foul play, and the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine the cause of death, while his family says the timeline does not add up.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed). Police say there does not appear to be foul play while the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office works to determine the cause, and his family says the timeline does not add up.