Inmate at Montville prison dies after being found with ligature fashioned from mask
Montville — A 32-year-old inmate at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center died Wednesday after being discovered in his cell with a ligature fashioned from a face mask tied around his neck, according to the Department of Correction.
The inmate was identified as Daniel Ocasio of Windsor, who had entered the facility on Aug. 5. He was being held in lieu of $10,000 bond on a charge of third-degree burglary.
According to Public Information Officer Andrius Banevicius, a correctional staff member conducting a routine tour of the facility at 5:07 a.m. found Ocasio sitting on his bunk with a ligature tied around his neck. The ligature was made from the cloth mask issued to the prison population to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Correctional and medical staff immediately initiated emergency and life-saving measures and called 911, according to Banevicius. Ocasio was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. He was pronounced dead at 5:55 a.m.
The cause and manner of death will be determined following an autopsy examination by the State Medical Examiner's Office. The Department of Correction's Security Division and the Connecticut State Police are investigating.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
