Today I’m launching my new Substack newsletter called Sentences. The pun is intended, Sentences will be a look into the experience of those serving prison sentences, drawing upon the stories of my contacts inside, many of them serving long-term sentences. Sentences will also be a place to explore my writing and share with readers the process as I chase down leads.
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Sentences is a renewed effort to push my writing. Substack allows you to get newsletters for free, or you can sign up to make a $5 monthly donation, or annual $50 contribution to support my investigative journalism.
Upcoming Articles!
I’m currently working on three articles that I plan to roll out in the new year. One is about Tille Deitz who recently died in the Champaign County jail that will be published soon in Smile Politely. The second is an article I’ve been contracted to write for the Invisible Institute about Urbana officer John Franquemont who has been fired for several incidents of excessive use of force. The third is an article I’ve been asked by my editor to pitch to The Appeal about several small county jails that are closing due to bail reform, the difficulty of finding staff, and the growing costs of mass incarceration.
Story About the Death of Tillie Deitz in the Champaign County Jail
Tillie Deitz died in the local jail in October 2022 with barely a mention in the local media. Still, almost three months later, not a single media outlet has followed up to find out her name. My article will be the first to explain what happened to her.
I first heard about a death in the jail during the run up to the recent mid-term elections. The Republican candidate for sheriff, John Brown, tried to use it against his political opponent Dustin Heuerman (the Democratic incumbent who was re-elected). I have investigated nearly every jail death since I moved to Champaign-Urbana in 2004 and was surprised I hadn’t heard of this one. I did a Google search and found that, indeed, a woman had died at the jail on October 13, 2022 due to unknown causes.
In my journalism, the first step is always to reach out to the family for their perspective. Through some basic digging, I found Tille Deitz’s mother and reached out to her. She told me she was processing the grief and caring for Deitz’s three young children who were left “heartbroken.” She was waiting for the results of the investigation and not yet ready to talk.
Next, I FOIA’d all the available public documents which revealed that Deitz was basically stealing to support a drug addiction. She was eventually sentenced to a year in prison for charging $125 to a stolen credit card. She collapsed in an apparent overdose less than 36 hours after being in the sheriff’s custody.
For context, I interviewed Bethany Little, founder of WIN Recovery in Champaign, who told me about the many obstacles women with addiction face in our community.
Support Stories Like This One!
By subscribing to my Substack, you are helping to boost stories such as this one. Women like Tillie Deitz rarely get any attention from the media, or sympathy from elected officials. Where are the voices stepping up to say this loss of life is unacceptable? Sentences will offer an alternative.