The state has yet to release many details of the June 24 death of a 28-year-old Lewiston man at the state prison farm in Warren.
Dana R. Bartlett died shortly before 6 p.m. at the Bolduc Correctional Facility, also known as the prison farm.
Mark Belserene, administrator of the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office, said the cause of death is awaiting further study and it could be two weeks before toxicological tests are returned.
Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said Tuesday the investigation continues.
“We know a great deal of what happened,” McCausland said.
State police detectives are working with the Maine Department of Corrections, but further details on the case are not being released publicly.
Joseph Fitzpatrick, commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections, said Tuesday he cannot comment because there is an ongoing investigation. He also would not say if the state had transferred inmates from the Bolduc facility to the state prison as a result of events that led to Bartlett’s death.
No one has been charged in the death.
Qfter being convicted as a habitual offender, Bartlett was sentenced March 22 in Androscoggin County Superior Court to 16 months in prison for driving a motor vehicle after his license had been revoked . He was scheduled to be released March 28, 2019.
Bartlett’s lawyer, Richard Charest, said July 13 he had been unaware of the death.
“He was a mild-mannered fellow,” Charest said. “He was not affiliated with any gang. I’m kind of surprised.”
Attempts to reach family members were unsuccessful.
Bolduc is a minimum-security facility with a capacity of 220 inmates who have sentences of less than three years. There is a staff of 65.
Dana Bartlett
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