(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — An ex-inmate's family is suing Illinois, alleging his death could have been prevented.
Michael Broadway, 51, was an inmate at the Stateville Correctional Center in June, when temperatures inside his cell reportedly topped 100 degrees.
Broadway recently earned a degree while incarcerated from Northwestern University. He gave a commencement speech, apologizing to his mom for ending up in prison.
Broadway was serving a 75 year sentence for first-degree murder.
A September autopsy on Broadway showed he died of asthma with cardiovascular disease, with heat stress as a contributing factor.
The family's attorney says he would still be alive if prison medical staff had responded promptly to his complaints of breathing trouble.
WBBM has reached out to the Illinois Department of Corrections for comment.
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