Surveillance footage has revealed the final hours of Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian asylum-seeker, who was found unresponsive at a Pittsburgh bus shelter and later died. Michel was released from Washington County Jail into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody three days before her death. ICE officials confirmed she was issued an ankle monitor and released on Pittsburgh’s South Side on Feb. 27. Pittsburgh Regional Transit video from a bus-mounted camera shows Michel sitting at a bus stop near the Smithfield Street Bridge on East Carson Street at 10:48 p.m. on Feb. 28. Her family’s attorney confirmed her identity in the footage to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.The video shows Michel remained at the bus shelter for hours. On March 1, she was seen sitting on the bench throughout the day and into the next morning, March 2. She was still at the bus shelter, appearing in the footage throughout the morning.By 8:36 a.m., Michel was sitting on the ground of the bus shelter. Within an hour, she was captured lying on the ground. PRT police said she was unresponsive and had no pulse at the time. A maintenance worker spotted Michel and called for help, PRT said at the time. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.Joseph Murphy, the family’s attorney, shared a statement, saying, “I’ve seen a lot of difficult and unpleasant things in my career, but seeing Ms. Michel like that brought tears to my eyes. It was one of the most senseless and tragic situations I’ve ever encountered. “We are still awaiting the official autopsy, and I’m not going to speculate about the precise cause of death. But the circumstances are deeply troubling. She appears to have been left at a bus shelter in temperatures in the 30s, exposed to the elements. “At a minimum, that raises serious questions about whether releasing someone in that condition and environment — without ensuring they could safely care for themselves — was appropriate. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, but right now, this demands a careful and thorough examination,” Murphy said. Allegheny County officials said they are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results before releasing the final cause and manner of death, a process that can take weeks. ICE officials have been contacted for additional information regarding Michel’s state at the time of her release.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Surveillance footage has revealed the final hours of Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian asylum-seeker, who was found unresponsive at a Pittsburgh bus shelter and later died.
Michel was released from Washington County Jail into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody three days before her death. ICE officials confirmed she was issued an ankle monitor and released on Pittsburgh’s South Side on Feb. 27.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit video from a bus-mounted camera shows Michel sitting at a bus stop near the Smithfield Street Bridge on East Carson Street at 10:48 p.m. on Feb. 28. Her family’s attorney confirmed her identity in the footage to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
The video shows Michel remained at the bus shelter for hours. On March 1, she was seen sitting on the bench throughout the day and into the next morning, March 2. She was still at the bus shelter, appearing in the footage throughout the morning.
By 8:36 a.m., Michel was sitting on the ground of the bus shelter. Within an hour, she was captured lying on the ground. PRT police said she was unresponsive and had no pulse at the time.
A maintenance worker spotted Michel and called for help, PRT said at the time. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
Joseph Murphy, the family’s attorney, shared a statement, saying, “I’ve seen a lot of difficult and unpleasant things in my career, but seeing Ms. Michel like that brought tears to my eyes. It was one of the most senseless and tragic situations I’ve ever encountered.
“We are still awaiting the official autopsy, and I’m not going to speculate about the precise cause of death. But the circumstances are deeply troubling. She appears to have been left at a bus shelter in temperatures in the 30s, exposed to the elements.
“At a minimum, that raises serious questions about whether releasing someone in that condition and environment — without ensuring they could safely care for themselves — was appropriate. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, but right now, this demands a careful and thorough examination,” Murphy said.
Allegheny County officials said they are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results before releasing the final cause and manner of death, a process that can take weeks.
ICE officials have been contacted for additional information regarding Michel’s state at the time of her release.
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