MI Lawmakers Want Answers After Metro Detroit Postal Worker Found Dead In Machine

ALLEN PARK, MI — Two Michigan lawmakers are demanding answers after a metro Detroit postal worker was killed in a workplace accident last weekend.

Love ones identified the man as 36-year-old Nick Acker, who had just got engaged to his fiancée 10 days before he was found dead, according to a GoFundMe page.

Officers found Acker, of Trenton, stuck in a mail handling machine at the United States Postal Service facility in Allen Park at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Police said that he'd been there for up to eight hours before firefighters arrived.

Investigators have not explained exactly how Acker was killed, though they don't suspect foul play.

His fiancée, Stephanie Jaszcz, told WDIV she's still searching for answers.

"We want to know what happened and how long he was there," she told the outlet. "That’s what we want to know. We want to know how he even ended up there and why doesn’t anybody know where he was at?"

Now, Michigan Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib called on Postmaster General David Steiner for answers regarding Acker’s death.

"He [Acker] was a maintenance mechanic at the NDC and had mentioned concerns about the way the facility was run to his fiancée," Dingell and Tlaib said in a letter. "His union management had also raised concerns about safety measures and procedures at the facility, and more than 90 days ago, the union filed an Article 14 grievance stating that management was putting pressure on staff to look for letters while the handling machine was operating."

The lawmakers also said they are concerned about how long Acker was in the machine before he was found and whether the machine was operating or turned off.

The USPS has issued a statement acknowledging the death:

"The United States Postal Service is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at the Detroit Network Distribution Center (NDC) in Allen Park, MI. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. The NDC is fully operational, at this time."

As of Thursday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $14,000 with a goal of $18,000.

"Stephanie and Nick shared a home, their dreams, and their love — along with their sweet puppies who meant the world to them," the page said. "Now, as she faces this unimaginable loss, Stephanie is also faced with the financial challenges that come with losing her partner and shared household income."

Patch has reached out to USPS for comment and will update this story when we hear back.