A 74-year-old man who was being held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vt., died Sunday, according to the Department of Corrections and the Vermont State Police.

Henry Butson of St. Johnsbury, Vt., was brought by ambulance to Springfield Hospital at about 6 a.m. after experiencing difficulty breathing and cardiac issues, according to the DOC. He received emergency care at the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after 9 a.m. His death is not considered to be suspicious, police said. The cause has not yet been determined.

Butson had been in the prison infirmary since Dec. 2, 2022, and in custody since June 8, 2003, according to state police. He was serving a sentence of 25 years to life in prison following his conviction for two counts of second-degree murder.

The Department of Corrections notified state police of the death at about 10 a.m. Sunday. A preliminary investigation conducted by a state police detective indicated he died as a result of a medical event that followed a decline in health.

The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, according to state police. In accordance with state law, the Department of Corrections, the Office of Prisoners’ Rights and the Vermont State Police will all conduct investigations, the department said.

The Department of Corrections reported nine prison deaths in 2022. The last reported death at the Springfield prison was in November.

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