Prosecutor completes investigation into inmate's death

Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic has released the results of the investigation into the death of inmate Martell Hadley in February 2016.

Hadley had been incarcerated in December 2015 and was sentenced to one to two years in prison in February 2016. He also had to serve time for a parole violation.

On February 27, 2016, a deputy doing a routine check of the men's dorm found Hadley hanging from a sheet in his cell at 10:12 p.m.

Hadley was the only occupant of the cell.

Deputies opened the cell door and began performing CPR. 9-1-1 was called and paramedics continued CPR and transported him to the hospital.

Resuscitation efforts were continued at the hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 10:55 p.m.

The investigation revealed Hadley had tied his sheet to a cold air vent 8 feet from the floor.

The surveillance video from the jail doesn't show the area where Hadley was found, but does show the front portion of his cell. The video shows Hadley entering the cell and the door closing around 9 p.m.

He could be seen writing at a table in the front of the cell, then disappears from view to the rear of the cell. No other inmates could see into Hadley's cell.

Investigators listened to recorded phone calls between Hadley and others and said he expressed frustration and depression over a personal matter.

A note, not considered a suicide note, reflected his frustration and depression over the personal matter, according to investigators.

According to the autopsy, Hadley's cause of death was asphyxia by hanging and the manner of death as suicide.

As a result of the investigation, Prosecutor Michael Sepic said the evidence supports suicide and there is no indication or evidence of foul play. No criminal charges are warranted.