Pittsburgh police homicide detectives are investigating the March death of 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker Daphy Michel, whose death was ruled a homicide by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner in June after determining she died of hypothermia.In a statement Friday, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said, “A determination of homicide is a medical finding indicating that death resulted from the actions of another person and does not, by itself, establish that a crime was committed.” They added that it is protocol for homicide detectives to investigate any death classified as a homicide within the city.Michel was found unresponsive at a bus shelter on Pittsburgh’s South Side on March 2 and died later that day. The initial investigation was handled by Port Authority police.”It’s perfectly reasonable for the city to investigate. Frankly, I was surprised they weren’t on this earlier,” said attorney Joseph Murphy, with the Allegheny Immigration Group.Three days before her death, Michel had been released from a six-month stay in the Washington County Jail after misdemeanor charges against her were dropped. Due to an ICE detainer on her file, she was transferred to the South Side, booked into the agency’s Alternatives to Detention program and released.Reporting by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has revealed that Michel spent more than 30 hours at the bus shelter after her release.ICE officials said she was released with a charged phone and a program ankle monitor.”They give her a cellphone. It’s been sitting in jail property for months. Who knows if it’s charged or if it even still works? So, who is she going to call and how? She didn’t speak the language. Educational, psychiatric barriers, summer clothes in February. It all adds up to someone who dies of exposure,” Murphy said.Murphy noted that Michel had been diagnosed with psychosis and had undergone multiple psychological evaluations during her time in jail.”This woman had a serious mental illness,” Murphy said. “They could have easily called her brother. After she died, people did. Why not before?”Murphy said homicide detectives met with him and Michel’s brother this week to discuss the case and learn more about her.

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh police homicide detectives are investigating the March death of 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker Daphy Michel, whose death was ruled a homicide by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner in June after determining she died of hypothermia.

In a statement Friday, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said, “A determination of homicide is a medical finding indicating that death resulted from the actions of another person and does not, by itself, establish that a crime was committed.” They added that it is protocol for homicide detectives to investigate any death classified as a homicide within the city.

Michel was found unresponsive at a bus shelter on Pittsburgh’s South Side on March 2 and died later that day. The initial investigation was handled by Port Authority police.

“It’s perfectly reasonable for the city to investigate. Frankly, I was surprised they weren’t on this earlier,” said attorney Joseph Murphy, with the Allegheny Immigration Group.

Three days before her death, Michel had been released from a six-month stay in the Washington County Jail after misdemeanor charges against her were dropped. Due to an ICE detainer on her file, she was transferred to the South Side, booked into the agency’s Alternatives to Detention program and released.

Reporting by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has revealed that Michel spent more than 30 hours at the bus shelter after her release.

ICE officials said she was released with a charged phone and a program ankle monitor.

“They give her a cellphone. It’s been sitting in jail property for months. Who knows if it’s charged or if it even still works? So, who is she going to call and how? She didn’t speak the language. Educational, psychiatric barriers, summer clothes in February. It all adds up to someone who dies of exposure,” Murphy said.

Murphy noted that Michel had been diagnosed with psychosis and had undergone multiple psychological evaluations during her time in jail.

“This woman had a serious mental illness,” Murphy said. “They could have easily called her brother. After she died, people did. Why not before?”

Murphy said homicide detectives met with him and Michel’s brother this week to discuss the case and learn more about her.