Inmate Dies at York Correctional in Niantic

A 27-year-old female inmate died at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic Monday morning, according to prison officials.

Cassandra Baker of Bantam was found ”in her cell with a ligature tied to her neck” at about 7:14 a.m., officials said, and her death is being investigated as a possible suicide because she was the only inmate in the cell at the time.

“Correctional and medical staff immediately initiated emergency and life saving measures. The inmate was transported to L&M Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:49 a.m.”

Baker was serving a four-year sentence for third-degree Burglary and had entered the York Correctional Institution on May 12, 2014.

“The exact manner and cause of death will be determined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office,” officials stated. “The Department of Correction Security Division and the Connecticut State Police are investigating the death.”