Waterbury, VT – The Vermont Department of Corrections today announced the death of an incarcerated individual at the maximum-security Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP) in Eddyville, Kentucky.
Gary Schaefer, 72, of Springfield, Vermont, was lodged at the KSP in May of 1985 to serve his sentence under the terms of the U.S. Interstate Corrections Compact (ICC). Vermont DOC houses a small number of incarcerated individuals in other jurisdictions through the ICC in rare instances requiring higher levels of security or protection.
Just after midnight on November 26, KSP staff performed a routine cell check and discovered Schaefer experiencing an acute medical event. Medical staff transported Schaefer via ambulance to a nearby hospital where life-saving efforts proved unsuccessful.
The Vermont Department of Corrections notified the Office of the Defender General of the death per protocol. The Kentucky Department of Corrections continues to provide VTDOC with updates as they receive them. The death does not appear suspicious at this time.
Schaefer was serving a sentence of 30 years to life for Kidnapping, Murder in the Second Degree, and Sexual Assault.
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