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Officials say woman who died at Harper Woods jail died of ‘natural causes’

Priscilla Slater died of a cardiac problem, officials said

HARPER WOODS, Mich. – A Wayne County spokesperson said that a woman who died at the Harper Woods jail died of natural causes.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner said Priscilla Slater died of cardiac dysrhythmia and the manner of her death was natural, involving no foul play.

You can read the entire autopsy report below.

Slater died while in custody on June 10. Harper Woods asked the Michigan State Police to launch an investigation.

The investigation led to the firing of a deputy chief and a patrol officer, city officials said.

City officials said members of the police department tried to conceal and manipulate evidence in the in custody death investigation of Slater.

Deputy Chief John Vorgitch and patrol officer Michael Pineau have been fired, according to authorities.

Michigan State Police are still investigating.

READ: Harper Woods director of public safety addresses death of 38-year-old woman inside holding cell

Slater was found unresponsive inside a Harper Woods holding cell. Her death led to protests outside city hall, with her family demanding to know how she died.

John Gillooly, an attorney retained by Harper Woods, said the city investigated and found the police report had been doctored.

Many questions still remain unanswered into her death. Michigan State Police are still investigating.

READ: More coverage


About the Author
Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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