‘They are still human beings’: Mother says she’s gotten no answers from VADOC since son’s death in Greensville prison
VENN
GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va (WRIC) -- A grieving mother is looking for answers after her son died in Greensville Correctional Center. The family said they’ve been left with almost no answers about his death for weeks.
Right now, they only know their loved one, Michael Dove, died at 3:49 a.m. on April 4 at the facility.
“He was the type of person that if you needed him, he was always there," Michael's mother Rhonda Dove said. “He was loved by so, so many. He had such a good heart.”
Michael Dove died in the Greensville Correctional Center on April 4, 2025. (Courtesy of Rhonda Dove)
Originally from Stephens City, the 38-year-old started his sentence in 2022 for drug-related charges. Rhonda said he battled addiction for years. He was supposed to get out in 2028, but she said his mental health deteriorated while incarcerated.
“I spoke to him on the phone the day before he died and he assured me that he was okay, that he was gonna go see mental health," Rhonda said. "He had spoke to his counselor and asked for mental health help and he was told he had to wait until Monday, and he never made it 'til Monday.”
Dove’s death certificate said he died early in the morning on Friday, April 4, so according to this timeline, he would’ve been waiting all weekend for the mental health help he said he needed.
Rhonda remembers getting the call from Greensville that her son was dead.
“She could not tell me anything else because it was a Virginia state law that they couldn’t tell me anything because he wasn’t in their custody anymore," she said.
8News has not found any law that reflects this.
Rhonda said if his death was self-inflicted, she blames the prison. She said Michael never got his belongings after being transferred to Greensville and had thyroid issues that made it hard to eat, especially when he wasn’t given his medication.
Michael Dove (Courtesy of Rhonda Dove)
“He asked for it the entire time that he was there," Rhonda said. "And all they ever told him is he’d have to be patient.”
She said he would often be hungry but couldn't afford putting money on his book.
Rhonda said Michael attempted suicide by hanging in February and was moved to a different block of the prison with none of the belongings he did have, and was given a new counselor, a transition she said was hard on him.
She said family and friends were able to put enough money together for a service, but everyday since he’s died, she makes calls to try and get answers.
“I have tried constantly to contact the Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) and have got no answer whatsoever," she said. "I have called them three times today and been hung up on all three times.”
She said a medical examiner is running toxicology tests that could take up to 16 weeks to be completed.
8News asked the DOC about the lack of information for this family. The DOC said, "The case is still under active investigation. No further information can be shared at this time.”
“You can’t keep a mother from her children 100%...until they die," Rhonda said. “They may have done something wrong, but they are still human beings. They still have people out here who love them.”
