Bethel Prisoner Found Dead in Jail Cell: Report

BETHEL, CT — A local man, who was imprisoned for a fatal stabbing last month, has killed himself in his cell.

David McDowell, 34, of Bethel, was found dead about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday by guards who were making their rounds, according to a spokesman for Bridgeport Correctional Center. Officials say that McDowell was alone in his cell at the time of his death

"Correctional and medical staff immediately initiated emergency and life saving measures. Local emergency medical technicians and firefighters responded to the scene and continued efforts to revive the offender. He was transported to local area hospital via ambulance where he was pronounced dead at 2:39 p.m.," according to prison spokesperson Andrius Banevicius.

MacDowell, arrested and charged with fatally stabbing a woman on Plumtrees Road on Aug. 24, had turned himself in at Police Headquarters in Bethel shortly after. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter and held on a $1 million bail for the act the police have described as domestic violence. The identity of the victim has not been released.

The Department of Corrections is investigating McDowell's death.