An inmate died at an Ionia prison March 27 in what Michigan State Police detectives are investigating as a suspected homicide, officials confirmed.
Joshua Ray McGehee, 40, “was found unresponsive in his cell” at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, Michigan Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jenni Riehle confirmed March 30.
“Lifesaving measures were initiated but were unsuccessful,” Riehle said.
“MSP and MDOC will be working with the local prosecutor on criminal charges if it is officially determined to be a homicide.”
Special Lt. Pat Agema, an MSP spokesman, said March 30 an investigation is ongoing and charges have not yet been filed. Agema would not release details on how McGehee died, pending an autopsy, but said it is being investigated as a homicide.
McGehee’s 19-year-old daughter, Miranda McGehee of Eastpointe, told the Detroit Free Press March 30 that her father was a good man who had a difficult life and was mostly unable to work because of his bipolar disorder. He did well when he stayed on his medications, she said.
Miranda McGehee said her father had only recently been moved to Bellamy Creek from Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee. Miranda said she is his only child.
McGehee was sentenced in Macomb County in 2020 to 11 years and 10 months to 25 years in prison for a 2019 unarmed robbery, prison records show.
On March 25, the MDOC announced plans to increase the number of high-security beds in the Michigan prison system as part of its Safe Prisons Initiative.
Corrections officers have complained that too many violent inmates are being housed in low-security units, endangering both officers and other inmates.
Bellamy Creek holds both low-security and high-security prisoners, in different units. McGehee was housed in a Level 4 unit, which is the second-highest security level, Riehle said.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Inmate death at Bellamy Creek prison investigated as suspected homicide
Reporting by Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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