USPS Worker Found Dead Inside Mail Machine at Michigan Facility
Authorities in Allen Park, Michigan, are investigating the death of Nicholas John Acker, a 36-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee who was found dead inside a mail-handling machine at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center over the weekend. Police have described the death as accidental, though questions remain about how the tragedy occurred and how long Acker was trapped before being discovered.
Found After Hours Missing
Acker, a maintenance worker at the distribution center, was found dead Saturday after his fiancée, Stephanie Jaszcz, reported him missing when he failed to return home from his shift. According to local station WDIV-TV, Jaszcz went to the facility herself and waited outside for hours before contacting authorities.
When firefighters and investigators arrived, they found Acker’s body inside one of the facility’s large mail-sorting machines. Officials estimate that he had been dead for six to eight hours before being discovered.
“We want to know what happened and how long he was there,” Jaszcz told WDIV. “We want to know how he even ended up there and why doesn’t anybody know where he was at?”
A Routine Shift Turns Tragic
Mail-handling machines like the one Acker was found in are used to sort and weigh mail at high speeds, processing thousands of pieces of mail per hour. The Detroit Network Distribution Center is one of the largest USPS facilities in the region, housing several large machines that operate around the clock.
Authorities have not explained how Acker became trapped inside the machinery, and investigators have yet to determine whether any safety mechanisms failed or if procedures were not followed. Police said early indications point to an accident, but the Allen Park Police Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are both reviewing the case.
USPS Issues Statement
In a statement to WDIV, the United States Postal Service said:
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.
The USPS has not publicly released additional details pending the outcome of the investigation.
Family Criticizes USPS Response
Jaszcz, Acker’s fiancée, said she was devastated not only by his death but also by what she felt was an impersonal response from the Postal Service. She criticized the agency for failing to include Acker’s name in its statement and for emphasizing that mail operations would continue.
“‘The mail’s still moving?’ Gross,” she said in her interview with WDIV. “‘Sorry about the loss, but the mail’s still moving.’ They couldn’t even say his name or acknowledge that he was an Air Force veteran. A man gone. A veteran. A husband. A human being. And all you can think of is mail keeps moving? Inhumane. It’s gross.”
Acker served in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Postal Service, where colleagues described him as hardworking and dedicated. His death has prompted questions about worker safety protocols at large distribution facilities, where employees often operate heavy machinery for extended hours with limited supervision.
Ongoing Investigation
Police have not said whether security footage from the distribution center is being reviewed or whether other employees were nearby when the incident occurred. Investigators say they are working to determine how long Acker was inside the machine before being discovered and whether safety inspections at the facility had been up to date.
The tragedy has sparked concern among USPS employees and unions nationwide, with many calling for greater oversight of machine maintenance procedures and emergency response protocols.
As of Tuesday, the facility remained open and operational while authorities continued their investigation. Jaszcz said she hopes her fiancé’s death will lead to accountability and stronger safety measures.