Jacob Carpenter

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

An inmate died overnight at the Milwaukee County Jail, the fourth death at the downtown facility in the past six months, the medical examiner's office said Friday.

The inmate's name has not been confirmed by authorities, but family members identified him as Michael J. Madden, 29, of Franklin.

No details were released by the medical examiner's office about the circumstances surrounding the death. An autopsy was to be performed Friday.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has not released any information or confirmed the death.

Madden's aunt, Kathleen Madden, made a brief statement Friday afternoon after consulting with Madden's parents.

"On behalf of the family, we are all in shock and obviously hurting," Kathleen Madden said. "We ask for your prayers and comfort in this time, and we know that Michael is in a better place. We also ask that you respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time."

Madden was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail in late September on charges of theft, drug possession and resisting arrest, Sheriff's Office records show.

Death in County Jail ruled homicide; cause of death was dehydration

WATCHDOG REPORT: Deaths in Detention

In late April, 38-year-old Terrill Thomas died of dehydration in the jail, and the medical examiner's office deemed the death a homicide. In mid-July, an inmate gave birth to a stillborn child without any jail or medical personnel noticing she was in labor, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and the jail's inmate health care provider. A 38-year-old woman, Kristina Fiebrink, was found dead in her cell in late August, though no information has been released about the manner and cause of death.

The Milwaukee Police Department was asked to investigate Thomas' death. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the cases of Fiebrink and the stillborn child.