Investigation into the death of a Haitian asylum seeker found at Pittsburgh bus stop ongoing, DA says
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. —
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office says its investigation into the death of a Haitian immigrant who died after spending more than 30 hours at a bus stop following her release from ICE custody is still ongoing.
In early March, Daphy Michel’s death was ruled a homicide, with hypothermia identified as the cause.
In a statement released today, the DA’s office said, “We understand the continued interest and concern regarding the death of Daphy Michel. However, although other agencies may have concluded their investigation, this case remains under review and investigation by our office. Thus, we cannot comment at this time. We will do so after we complete a full and thorough review.”
Michel Found Unresponsive at Bus Shelter
Michel was found unresponsive at a bus shelter on Pittsburgh’s South Side on March 2 and died later that day. The initial investigation was handled by Port Authority police.
Three days before her death, Michel had been released from a six-month stay in the Washington County Jail after misdemeanor charges against her were dropped.
Due to an ICE detainer on her file, she was transferred to the South Side, booked into the agency’s Alternatives to Detention program and released.
Reporting by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 revealed Michel spent more than 30 hours at the bus shelter after her release.
ICE officials said she was released with a charged phone and a program ankle monitor.
“They give her a cellphone. It’s been sitting in jail property for months. Who knows if it’s charged or if it even still works? So, who is she going to call and how? She didn’t speak the language. Educational, psychiatric barriers, summer clothes in February. It all adds up to someone who dies of exposure,” Attorney Joseph Murphy, with the Allegheny Immigration Group, told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 in July.
Murphy said that Michel had been diagnosed with psychosis and had undergone multiple psychological evaluations during her time in jail.
“This woman had a serious mental illness,” Murphy said. “They could have easily called her brother. After she died, people did. Why not before?”
Medical Examiner Ruled Death Homicide
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to ICE with questions after receiving the medical examiner’s report in June.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis provided the following statement:
“ICE had NOTHING to do with this woman’s death. She passed away THREE days after ICE encountered her.
“Following her arrest by local authorities for Terroristic Threats and Harassment, Daphy Michel, an illegal alien from Haiti, was encountered by ICE and placed in removal proceedings. ICE issued her an ICE ankle monitor and she was released from ICE custody on February 27. She was released with all of her belongings, including a fully charged phone, in sunny weather in the middle of Pittsburgh, where public transport is readily available.
“All illegal aliens who are processed have access to phones to call family, friends, and attorneys.
“On March 3, ICE received a notification that her ankle monitor had been tampered with. ICE officers traveled to her last known location on the GPS system: the county medical office. Upon arrival, local staff refused to cooperate or even talk with ICE federal law enforcement officials. Our officers instead had to call the US Marshal’s service, who were let into the building and were given the severed ankle monitor. However, staff refused to even tell the U.S. Marshals about the individual’s condition.
“ICE was never given official notification of her passing and found out about her death via the media thanks to the local county’s refusal to even have a conversation with federal law enforcement.
“For any further questions regarding Ms. Michel’s death, we will refer you to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office.”