We are a family grieving the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and father, who left us all too soon at the young age of 44.

Michael was a proud vet who struggled with PTSD. From what we learned from his neighbors, he was apparently in a PTSD psychosis when they called the police and crisis workers on May 1. The crisis team had been called twice in the week leading up to this. On this day, police arrested Michael and put him in the Thurston County jail. Two days later, he was moved to the Nisqually jail. Three days after that, he was found unresponsive in his cell. He fell asleep and never woke up.

We, his family, are shocked and destroyed by Michael’s death. The coroner could not find a cause of death and is investigating. The hardest part of grieving his death is knowing he was in a mental health crisis alone and thrown into jail instead of getting mental help.

Michael loved his family and friends. At his candle vigil, everyone said the same thing: that Michael was kind and giving and helped them whenever he could. Whether it was carrying groceries, watering their plants, being a listening ear, or just spending time with others who were alone, he was always there for everyone at the drop of a dime.

He loved his daughter, mother, aunts, five brothers, two sisters, and 13 nieces and nephews.

We are asking for help to give him a proper burial here in Lacey, where we all reside nearby. Plus, we would like to do a celebration of his life.