WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Protesters lined the street outside the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility on Wednesday evening, continuing what advocates say has become a weekly demonstration following three inmate deaths at the prison in less than a month.
Families and advocates have gathered outside the Pittsfield Township facility each Wednesday as investigations continue into the deaths of Khaira Howard, 28, who died May 13, Rebecca Fackler, 57, who died May 17, and Ashley Hoath, 36, who died June 6, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Hoath’s death
Hoath died June 6 at Trinity Health Hospital, several hours after being transferred from the prison’s medical unit, the Michigan Department of Corrections said in a statement.
During the early morning hours, an officer noticed Hoath was feeling unwell and escorted her to the facility’s health care area for assessment, the department said.
Medical staff determined she needed hospital care and transferred her by ambulance.
Hoath was responsive at the time of transfer, the department said.
“Several hours later, the facility was notified of her passing,” the statement said. The death was unexpected and remains under investigation.
The department said the investigation includes a mortality review, an autopsy by an independent medical examiner, and an administrative review of procedural compliance.
Michigan State Police were on site conducting interviews and collecting evidence, MDOC said.
In the statement, MDOC Director Heidi Washington asked the public “to refrain from speculation without the facts” while investigations are conducted.
“I can promise you that the community will have answers to what caused this death, and the ones that have preceded it,” Washington said.
Families, advocates allege medical neglect
At the weekly protest, activists and family members alleged the deaths reflect broader problems inside the facility, including inadequate medical care.
“Every single case is a case of medical neglect, and it stems from the guards in the facility, all the way to the front desk, all the way to the director,” said Zane Parker, an activist with Workers Against Oppression who has been organizing weekly demonstrations.
Hoath’s daughter told Local 4 that prison staff only stepped in after Hoath collapsed in a bathroom, and that other inmates had sought help for her earlier.
Shaquillia DeShields, the mother of Khaira Howard, said she plans to continue attending protests as she awaits an autopsy result to determine her daughter’s cause of death.
“I’m planning to be here every week. I won’t stop until my daughter gets justice,” DeShields said.
Howard had schizophrenia, but no medical condition that would have caused a sudden death, DeShields said.
She described the protests as a way to keep pressure on state officials for answers.
“I’m gonna keep on ringing the bell,” DeShields said. “It’s really sad that they’re in here trying to get themselves together and then people in there don’t care about them.”
Calls for leadership changes, oversight
More than 30 state lawmakers have signed a letter calling for Washington’s resignation, citing what they describe as systemic issues at the prison.
Lawmakers have previously urged the state to take action after the death of Jennifer Wallace, who died at the facility in November 2025, and after inmate Krystal Clark came forward with claims of toxic mold at the facility, which MDOC denies.
Advocates say leadership changes alone are not enough.
“We need not only for Heidi Washington to step down and for the warden to step down, but we need our elected officials to put an oversight committee over MDOC,” said activist Trische Duckworth with the organization Survivors Speak.
MDOC said mental health professionals have been on site in the housing unit for women affected by the recent deaths.
The department also said Washington and health care leadership have been regularly on-site at the prison, and that additional experienced clinical leadership from across the state has been called in.
The department said it is in the process of hiring additional full-time medical staff and has held stakeholder briefings “as part of its commitment to transparency,” with more briefings planned.