...Flint’s Water Treatment Plant foreman, (click here) McFarland, died “suddenly,” according to his obituary, and though the Flint Journal reported there were no indications of foul play, his cause of death was unknown as of Thursday. Officials were awaiting toxicology reports. According to ABC, McFarland had been questioned by officials investigating Flint’s water crisis.
Several reports have connected Bell and McFarland’s deaths and suggested that taken together, they are “suspicious” (the Daily Mail) or constitute an effort to cover up the water crisis (Natural News).
Flint’s water crisis first made national news in December, when the city declared a state of emergency due to local children’s lead levels. (Lead-tainted water, like the water in Flint, especially severe long-term effects on children.) The first criminal charges related to the crisis rolled out last week, and Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette, tweeted that the charges were “just the beginning.”
April 27, 2016
By Alexander Lee
Two people were found dead (click here) in their homes over the past two weeks during the ongoing Flint, Michigan water crisis investigation. Sasha Bell, 19, and Matthew Bell (McFarland), 43, died in seemingly unrelated incidences, some startling facts may state otherwise."A 19-year-old Michigan mother who was one of the first to file lawsuits on behalf of the thousands of children poisoned by water in Flint was found shot to death this week." "The body of Sasha Bell was discovered Tuesday night at Ridgecrest Village Townhouses in Flint, authorities said. The body of a second woman, Sacorya Reed, was also found in the home." in a report from the NY Daily News.
"The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department said a friend found McFarland unresponsive at a home in Otter Lake. There were no signs of foul play," reported Mlive.com. "An autopsy did not determine a cause of death and police are awaiting toxicology reports. The investigation remains open... Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's office confirmed that McFarland was previously interviewed as part of its ongoing investigation into the city's water crisis."
18-year-old Malek Thornton is in custody for the murders of Sasha Bell and Sacoyra Reed. "Thornton has been charged and arraigned in this case for two counts of first degree murder, two counts of open murder and felony fireman," according to NBC 25.
It is hard to rule out the speculation that Bell and McFarland were murdered for standing up against the Flint Water Crisis. Matthew, who is a foreman of the Flint Water Treatment died days before he was to stand trial on the ongoing investigation of the water crisis that has left many families damaged from the poisonous water they had been consuming for years.
What you should consider...
It is ironic that every time the government is behind an incident such as this, they find immunity and walk away free. Upon the notice of Flint residents that their water was tainted, an EPA official resigned and walked away free despite knowing what was happening for months. Uproar of protests called for Governor Rick Synder to resign for his role on this issue. Back in 2014, Flint was in the guidance of an emergency manager appointed by the state to repair the shattered city. Governor Rick Synder was responsible for selecting those on staff for this task and once he picked his officials, they immediately went to work. The governor wanted to save as much money possible, so instead of pumping water from the Detroit system, they chose to take water from the Flint River. Unaware of the immense salt content in the river, it immediately began corroding Flint's archaic water pipelines thus flowing lead into the water system. Although the project did save millions, more harm was done than good....
January 16, 2019
By Roberto Acosta
Flint - A 21-year-old man (click here) has been found guilty in connection with an April 2016 double homicide at a Flint apartment complex.
Jurors convicted Toron Cortez Fisher on Wednesday, Jan. 16 of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and two counts of felony firearm in the shooting deaths of 19-year-olds Sasha Bell and Sacorya Reed.
Fisher and cousin Malek Emmanuel Thornton went to the victim’s residence at Ridgecrest Apartments in Flint on April 18, 2016 to retaliate for an earlier incident in which Thornton had been robbed, according to a statement from the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office.
It is convenient the 19 year olds aren't alive to testify for themselves. I find it unusual that there exists testimony that pins the blame of the actions of murderers initially on the victims. Supposedly the robbery of Mr. Thornton, which was never reported, provided a reason for murders three months later. That is the strangest reporting about murder I ever heard.
Fisher and Thornton believed the 19-year-olds were involved in setting up the robbery, per the statement. Court testimony revealed Thornton was robbed at Bell’s apartment in late 2015, according to MLive-The Flint Journal records.
Thornton pleaded guilty in October 2018 to second-degree murder and felony firearm while agreeing to testify against Fisher in the case.
Bell’s murder garnered national and international headlines due to her involvement in a lawsuit in which she alleged her child had been poisoned by lead as a result of the Flint water crisis. Police have said the murders had no direct connection to Bell’s involvement in the lawsuit....
