Man Convicted of Murdering Melrose Native Found Dead in Cell

An inmate serving life without parole in the murder of a Plaistow, N.H. woman born in Melrose was found dead Monday in his cell in New Hampshire state prison in Concord, officials said.

Corrections officers discovered Joseph John Sawtell, 31, unresponsive in his cell at about 7 p.m. on March 5. Prison staff and responders from the Concord Fire Department were unable to resuscitate him.

New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

Sawtell was admitted to the state prison in 2003 after being found guilty of first degree murder of Crystal Sheehan, 19, who was born in Melrose, and grew up in Danville, N.H. The New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2005.

Rockingham County Superior Court found Sawtell guilty of shooting Sheehan four times with a .357 revolver before attempting suicide, according to the court. The high court rejected Sawtell's appeal, including his attempt to strike testimony by witnesses that he was unhappy about "fatherhood and removal of the victim and their son from their apartment."

New Hampshire corrections officials say an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.