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Southern State Correctional Facility investigates death; reports 45 COVID cases

By Jordan J. Phelan
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Vermont State Police and the Prisoners’ Rights Office are investigating the death of an incarcerated man at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield on Tuesday.

During routine rounds, Southern State Correctional Facility staff noticed Raymond Gadreault, 73, “experiencing a medical issue” shortly before 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Gadreault, who had a “medical history,” was alone in his cell at the time of the incident, according to Vermont State Police.

The Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and an assistant medical examiner responded to the scene. Resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful and Gadreault was pronounced dead.

Gadreault is believed to have died of natural/medical causes and therefore is not deemed suspicious by the Vermont Department of Corrections and Vermont State Police.

Per standard procedure, Gadreault was then transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy.

Earlier in the week, the Springfield facility was placed on lockdown as a precaution in response to nearly four dozen new COVID-19 cases among inmates.

Testing took place on Friday, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections.

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