Dingell asks Whitmer for answers on conditions at women’s prison after third death in a month

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell sent a letter Monday to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, calling for immediate action and answers from state officials about conditions at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Michigan’s only women’s prison.

“No one should be subjected to conditions that threaten their health and well-being. But for years, there have been alarming reports of the condition of and treatment facing women in custody at the facility,” Dingell, an Ann Arbor Democrat, said in the letter. “Several have come forward with their experiences of having to clean toxic mold without proper safety equipment and describe a disturbing lack of medical care. Instances of toxic mold are particularly troubling because of the potential for respiratory illness and other long-term health consequences.”

She also specifically referenced the three deaths — Rebecca Fackler, Khaira Howard and Ashley Hoath — that have occurred at the facility in the last month. 

“The department also takes the conditions of our facilities and the welfare of those who live and work there very seriously,” Jennifer Riehle, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections, wrote in an email. “The department is working to expedite the investigations into the recent deaths of those under our supervision at WHV. Part of the investigations include autopsy reports conducted by a third-party medical examiner. The department has requested that those findings be released to the department as soon as possible. As of today, the medical examiner has not provided a timeline for their release.”

The prison has been the center of significant criticism and controversy, including two federal lawsuits, one alleging the presence of toxic mold in the facility that was harming the health of inmates. That lawsuit remains in federal district court. The other suit, which was dismissed in October 2025, sought financial compensation for female inmates who said that they were filmed during strip searches.

Conditions at the prison have also drawn scrutiny from state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. At a February hearing of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) detailed cases of mistreatment and a lack of medical care being provided to those incarcerated at the facility, as well as a prevalent mold issue. 

Pohutsky told the story in the hearing of one woman incarcerated at the facility, Krystal Clark, who had visible mold growing in her ears, and had developed other health issues, including a facial droop and severe swelling in her arms, while incarcerated. Pohutsky said another woman, Jennifer Wallace, died of sepsis in November 2025 after her tooth became infected and the infection traveled to her heart. Her autopsy also showed that she was developing pneumonia, which her family suspects may have been caused by mold at the prison.

“The health and safety of those under MDOC’s supervision must always be their top priority,” a statement from Whitmer’s office about the letter said. “The governor has directed MDOC to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. This process will include a careful assessment by an independent medical examiner. When this process is complete, we will release the results of the investigation. Families deserve to have the answers they need during the grieving process.”

Riehle added that the department and its legal team have been in discussions today about the request to issue the findings of mold testing that was conducted at Women’s Huron Valley as part of ongoing litigation. 

“The department has requested a summary of the findings from the third-party expert who conducted the tests and the department will release them as soon as they are received,” she said. “As the department has previously stated, the findings of these tests were consistent with expected results typically found in large settings where individuals live and work. Claims suggesting that the facility has dangerous, systemic, black or toxic mold conditions are not supported by this expert testing.”

She also added that the department is in the process of hiring additional full-time medical staff and improving communications across the facility

The prison, located in Ypsilanti, is in Dingell’s district, and she noted in a press release that she toured the facility in 2023, at which point she had “honest and candid conversations about the importance and availability of health care and mental health services” with those incarcerated there. 

“I’ve visited the facility for hours and spoken directly with women who are terrified for their wellbeing,” she continued in Monday’s letter. “Their concerns–and the concerns of the broader community–remain unaddressed, and public confidence in the facility has plummeted. These concerns warrant immediate review and meaningful corrective action to ensure that all individuals in state custody are treated humanely and provided with a safe environment.”

Dingell asked Whitmer a series of questions, including about testing for environmental and safety hazards and about procedures in place for when an incarcerated individual is in need of medical care. She asked Whitmer to respond to her questions by June 19, further urging her to make relevant studies, inspections or reports available to the public.