Vermonter incarcerated at Mississippi private prison dies

An incarcerated individual imprisoned through Vermont’s private prison contract at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi died on Monday, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections. 

Alfred Brochu, 71, “was found unresponsive” Sunday afternoon, according to a department press release. Prison medical staff “immediately began life-saving measures and called for emergency medical services,” the release stated. Brochu regained consciousness and was transported to Northwest Delta Regional Medical Center, where he later died, the department said Monday.

His death “does not appear suspicious at this time,” according to the release.

Brochu, who was serving a life sentence without parole in the 2003 murder of his son’s ex-girlfriend, was moved out of state in 2011, the department said.

Earlier this month, Vermont Corrections Commissioner Nick Deml told lawmakers that the state was holding 126 men at the Mississippi prison through its contract with CoreCivic, which operates private prisons. Department officials have said the out-of-state contract is important to prevent overcrowding. 

The Defender General’s Prisoners’ Rights Office will investigate Brochu’s death, which is standard practice.