Vermont State Police The investigation into the death of an inmate at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury is continuing Monday, April 4, 2022. The inmate is identified as Dustin Dunkling, 29, of St. Albans. He was booked on March 24 for a violation of probation on a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was alone in his cell and died by suicide. An autopsy is pending at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington to confirm the cause and manner of death.
***Initial news release, 1:35 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2022***
On 4/3/22 Vermont State Police began an investigation into the death of an inmate at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury. At approximately 2127 hours (9:27 pm) hours a male inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. The inmate was provided with immediate medical attention but was later pronounced deceased. The cause and manner of death is pending an autopsy which will be performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. This death is not considered suspicious at this time and the name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
CASE#: 22A4002261
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Detective Trooper Christopher Pilner
STATION: St. Johnsbury
CONTACT#: 802-748-3111
DATE/TIME: 4/3/22 at approximately 2208
INCIDENT LOCATION: Northeast Regional Correctional Facility, St. Johnsbury, VT
VICTIM: Dustin Dunkling
AGE: 29
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: St. Albans, Vermont
