Dalephenia Reanita Jones, 62, died Thursday at Trinity Health Hospital, 14 days after being admitted. She had been serving a life sentence at WHV since being sentenced in 1994.

According to an MDOC statement, officers at WHV interacted with Jones on June 19 after she appeared to need medical assistance, though she remained conscious. Jones was taken to the facility’s healthcare area.

MDOC healthcare staff subsequently requested outside emergency medical services.

“An ambulance was on grounds at the WHV within minutes to transport Ms. Jones to the emergency room,” the MDOC said.

Prior to Dalephenia Reanita Jones' death on Thursday, three other inmates at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility died within one month of each other. From left to right: Khaira Howard, 28, died on May 13; Rebecca Fackler, 57, died on May 17; and Ashley Hoath, 36, died on June 6. (Photos courtesy of the Michigan Department of Corrections)

The hospital determined Jones was experiencing a cardiac event, and she was taken into surgery. She remained under the care of hospital staff following the procedure and died Thursday.

Jones had multiple documented chronic medical conditions for which she was receiving treatment as part of a chronic care plan, according to the MDOC. Some of those conditions reportedly have the potential to increase the risk of cardiac events.

The MDOC said it will investigate the events leading up to Jones’ hospitalization and will provide information on the results once the investigation is complete.

Jones’ death is the latest in a series of deaths within two months involving incarcerated women at WHV, including Ashley Hoath, 36, who died June 6; Khaira Howard, 28, who died May 13; and Rebecca Fackler, 57, who died May 17.

Women sentenced from across Michigan, including those sentenced in Delta County, serve their sentences at WHV, the state’s only correctional facility for women.

The deaths have prompted the public and lawmakers to call on the MDOC and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to address alleged health and safety issues at the prison.

In June, the MDOC released a summary of findings from third-party environmental testing at WHV, reporting no evidence of systemic black or toxic mold conditions inside the prison.

“The department continues to take meaningful actions at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional, and other facilities, to improve the health and safety of incarcerated individuals,” the MDOC said in response to Jones’ death. “MDOC leadership and healthcare leadership have been regularly onsite at WHV providing oversight.”

Experienced clinical leaders from across the state have also reportedly been deployed to WHV. The MDOC said it is hiring additional full-time medical staff, developing a new healthcare staffing plan with enhanced nursing management, improving communication and implementing other measures intended to provide additional support.

The MDOC encourages the public to stay up to date on the latest developments by visiting the MDOC Transparency and Action website at http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/transparency.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.