Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections is conducting an internal review, to include administrative and medical reviews, following the death of an incarcerated individual at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield on Thursday.
Matthew Castellini, 35, of White River Junction, was found unresponsive by Vermont DOC staff at approximately 6 am on April 28, 2022. Correctional and medical staff first responders began life-saving efforts and called for outside medical assistance. Castellini was pronounced deceased at the facility.
The official cause of death will be determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner but, at this time, the cause is suspected to be suicide.
Vermont DOC notified Vermont State Police and the Defender General - Prisoners’ Rights Office of the death per state law and protocol. These entities will be conducting separate investigations into the death in conjunction with the Vermont DOC’s administrative and medical reviews.
The Vermont DOC Peer Support Team is on site at the facility to support SSCF staff.
Castellini was lodged at SSCF in December 2021 on a violation of probation charge and was also facing new unadjudicated charges.
This is the second death of a Vermont inmate this month.
Dustin Dunkling, 29, of St. Albans, was found unresponsive by Vermont DOC staff at approximately 9:30 pm on April 3, 2022. The official cause of death will be determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner but, at the time, the cause was suspected to be suicide.
A third inmate died in February.
On the morning of February 22, 2022, Raymond Gadreault, 73, of Melborne, FL, died at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield after staff found Gadreault in his cell experiencing a medical issue.
A fourth inmate died on New Year's day.
On the morning of January 1, 2022, Michael Cornell, 34, of Newport, was found in his cell by medical staff at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. Staff responded to the scene, began life-saving efforts, and called for outside medical assistance. Emergency medical services arrived, continued CPR, and transported Mr. Cornell to North Country Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The official cause of death will be determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner, but at the time it was not considered suspicious.
Source: 4.28.2022. Waterbury, Vt. – The Vermont Department of Corrections
