Justice for Joshua Tomlin

Hello everyone.

We are Michael and Marilyn Tomlin, the parents of Joshua Michael Tomlin, our beloved son who died on March 3, 2025. We are sharing Joshua’s story so that you can understand who he was, what happened to him, and why we are asking for help to pursue justice on his behalf.

Joshua was kind, creative, and deeply sensitive. He was a gifted musician who played the bassoon, guitar, and alto saxophone. He lived with schizophrenia and autism, and he also suffered from severe, chronic back pain caused by a work-related injury that ultimately required spinal surgery. Like many people living with profound physical pain and serious mental illness, Joshua turned to substance use in an attempt to cope with overwhelming suffering.

Although Joshua could not maintain traditional employment due to his illnesses, he worked with us whenever possible. We employed him on construction projects where he could earn a living using the electrician skills he learned during an apprenticeship—before his health declined. Joshua worked hard to rebuild his life, even as he struggled daily with schizophrenia and addiction.

Joshua owned his own home. He had the love and constant support of his family. He was not alone.

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What Happened to Joshua

On March 3, 2025, Joshua was found deceased in his home by his father, Michael, who went to check on him. For years, Michael had been checking on Joshua every day and night as his mental health deteriorated and his schizophrenia worsened.

Joshua’s death has not been ruled out as a crime. On the night before he died, Joshua was involved in a confrontation. When he collapsed and became unresponsive, no emergency services were called. His body was left unattended for hours. Evidence was allegedly removed. By the time his father arrived, Joshua had already been dead for 10 to 12 hours.

Nearly a year has passed. No meaningful investigation has been conducted. Joshua’s cellphone has never been returned to us. We have received no answers, no transparency, and no accountability.

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Housing Harassment and Exploitation

Shortly after Joshua purchased his home, he began complaining about a tenant who lived there and repeatedly harassed him—keeping him awake all night with noise, bringing rowdy people into the house at all hours, and stealing Joshua’s belongings. At times, Joshua was so overwhelmed that he slept at our home simply to get rest.

Even after Joshua’s death, this same individual remains in Joshua’s house. Nearly a year later, we still cannot safely enter the property, reclaim our son’s belongings, or assess the condition of his home. We do not know what has been taken, damaged, or destroyed.

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Failed Treatment and Systemic Breakdown

Since 2023, we repeatedly tried to get Joshua into rehabilitation and treatment facilities. We disclosed his mental health diagnoses fully and honestly. Again and again, facilities would accept him—only to discharge him shortly after his schizophrenia symptoms appeared. This happened multiple times.

Government agencies failed to intervene. Hospitals failed to treat him. Mental health providers failed to provide continuity of care. Yet everyone was paid. At one point, Joshua’s medication costs alone exceeded $12,000 per month.

Joshua died under circumstances that demand answers—after repeated institutional failures and despite years of documented disability. Facilities accepted taxpayer funds to treat him, only to send him back into crisis when his schizophrenia became evident.

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Why We Are Raising Funds

Joshua mattered. What happened to him should never happen to anyone, especially not to a person with documented disabilities who was known to be vulnerable.

The courts were familiar with Joshua’s situation. Law enforcement knew him. His doctors and therapists knew his diagnoses. And yet, the system failed him.

We have done everything we could—including representing ourselves as pro se litigants and hiring the most affordable attorneys available. Those efforts were unsuccessful, and we have now exhausted our financial resources.

We have since identified an attorney experienced in the complex legal matters involved in this case, including civil rights violations, disability protections, housing exploitation, and wrongful death claims. However, we cannot retain this counsel without help.

This campaign is about justice, not revenge.

Funds raised will be used exclusively for:

• Civil litigation related to Joshua’s death

• Civil-rights violations involving mental health and disability

• Wrongful death and survivorship claims

• Accountability for those who exploited or harmed Joshua

• Legal action addressing systemic failures in mental health and disability protections

• Forensic reviews, expert witnesses, and investigators

• Court filings, transcripts, discovery, and litigation costs

• Preservation and review of evidence

• Legal action to remove the individual unlawfully occupying Joshua’s home

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Why This Matters Beyond Joshua

Joshua’s story is not unique. Across this country, people with mental illness, autism, and addiction are too often dismissed, criminalized, or ignored until it is too late.

This case has the potential to expose systemic failures and help prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak.

Justice for Joshua means:

• Accountability for those responsible

• Recognition of the rights of vulnerable adults

• A clear message that neglect and exploitation will not be ignored

This affects all of us—public safety, hospitals, courts, emergency services, taxpayers, and communities.

Treatment costs less than incarceration.

Stability costs less than chaos.

Human dignity costs nothing.

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How You Can Help

Please consider:

• Donating, if you are able—any amount truly helps

• Sharing this campaign with friends, family, and your community

• Standing with us in demanding transparency and justice

Joshua mattered deeply to his family and friends. We will carry his memory with us always. His story deserves to be heard.

Thank you for standing with our family—not only for Joshua, but for others who cannot fight for themselves.

With gratitude and resolve,

Michael W. Tomlin

Father of Joshua Michael Tomlin

Marilyn B. Tomlin

Mother of Joshua Michael Tomlin

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From a Father

I tried to protect my son.

I advocated.

I documented.

I asked for help.

Now, I am asking again—this time for justice.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for caring.

Thank you for helping us fight for Joshua.

— Michael W. Tomlin