Accident – Death – Obituary News : A prisoner accused of fatally stabbing his fellow inmate at the state prison in northern Macomb County has been ordered to face the charges in Macomb County Circuit Court. Micheal Ketchum, aged 46, was bound over to the higher court in Mount Clemens after Judge William Hackel III of 42-II District Court in New Baltimore found him guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon within the prison premises.
**The Macomb Correctional Facility: Setting the Scene**
The incident took place on October 18, 2022, at the Macomb Correctional Facility located in Lenox Township, Michigan. It was during breakfast time when authorities claim Ketchum attacked an inmate, stabbing him multiple times in the head, neck, and arm. Upon further investigation, prison officers discovered another inmate, Ruben Martinez, hogtied, strangled, and stabbed to death underneath Ketchum’s bed.
**Victim Identification and Treatment**
Ruben Martinez, aged 28, was serving time for armed robbery in Saginaw County and other crimes committed within the prison facility. The injured inmate was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and later discharged.
**Prisoner’s Criminal History**
Ketchum, with a history of violent crimes, was already serving lengthy prison sentences for attempted murder in Saginaw County in 2019 and for attempted murder and armed robbery in Kalamazoo County in 2009. Following the fatal incident, he was swiftly relocated to the Ionia Correctional Facility.
**Previous Incidents at the Facility**
This tragic event marked the third homicide within the Macomb Correctional Facility that year. In a separate incident, Martell Smith, aged 26, was found murdered after being involved in a fight where another inmate fatally stabbed him. Elrick D. Cooper, aged 56, was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for this crime. Another victim, Christopher Neely, aged 33, died from multiple stab wounds in a separate incident on September 18, 2022. It remains unclear whether anyone was held responsible for his death.
**Investigation and Administrative Actions**
In the aftermath of the incidents, Warden George Stephenson was placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation. The status of his current employment remains uncertain as of Friday.
The Macomb Correctional Facility, amidst these distressing events, has come under scrutiny for its handling of security and inmate safety. The series of violent incidents have raised concerns about the overall effectiveness of the prison’s protocols and procedures in ensuring the well-being of both inmates and staff members. The upcoming court proceedings will shed more light on the circumstances surrounding these tragic occurrences and provide a sense of closure for the victims’ families..