Vermont lawmakers to hear about death of inmate in Kentucky

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Members of a Vermont legislative committee are going to be asking why Kentucky State Police weren’t informed in a timely manner about the death of a Vermont inmate who had been serving time in a private Kentucky prison.

The Legislature’s Justice Oversight Committee is meeting Wednesday and lawmakers plan to discuss the death of inmate James Nicholson.

The 66-year-old Nicholson died on May 18, about six weeks after he had been assaulted and seriously injured by another inmate. An autopsy determined Nicholson died of a heart ailment, but it was unable to determine if the attack played a role in his death.

The Kentucky State Police began an investigation into the assault after Nicholson was attacked, but no one told police he had died.

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