The Michigan State Police are investigating a death at a state prison in Ionia as a homicide. This is the second homicide investigation at the facility this year amid growing statewide frustration from corrections officers that prisons are not unsafe.
Kevin Kelly, 36, was found unresponsive in his cell at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility last week, Wednesday, Aug. 19. He was serving a 2-5 year sentence for aggravated stalking.
A Michigan State Police spokesperson confirmed Michael Christopher Glance is a person of interest in the investigation.
Glance is behind bars on attempted murder charges for shooting his son during a fight with his son' mother. He's serving a 55-year sentence.
Byron Osborn is president of the Michigan Corrections Organization, the union who represents sate correctional officers.
He said state prisons are not safe and there is a guard shortage at facilities. According to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Corrections, several prisons in the Upper Peninsula have a vacancy rate over 25%, with the Baraga Correctional Facility topping the list at 40%. The Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility currently has a 22.7% vacancy rate.
"We just can't get enough traction with our state elected officials for them to take some serious steps to assist us," Osborn said.
A bill to boost pensions for guards was vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year after being stalled due to a legal battle over whether a set a nine bills should be formally sent to her desk from the state House of Representatives.
Whitmer said that the bills were rendered unworkable due to being stalled for over 15 months. She said signing the bills would “give rise to endless litigation” and “overwrite law that has since gone into effect.”
Osborn says the effort to pass legislation for guards to be added to the state police hybrid pension plan has likely been stalled.
“We're just kind of anticipating a new governor, a new legislature, and starting from scratch, quite frankly," he said.
There was another death at the Bellamy facility in March that is currently being investigated as a homicide.
Joshua McGehee was found dead that month according to the MDOC. A fellow inmate, Michael Brewer is a suspect in that case.
The Michigan Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to WCMU's request for comment.
