According to police reports, Vermont State Police are investigating the death of a 60-year-old inmate at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. Robert Labonte, a resident of Enosburgh, was reported to have been taken to Springfield Hospital on December 24, 2025, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Police say that emergency medical staff attempted to revive Labonte, but he could not be saved. Detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations have been called to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Initial findings suggest that Labonte may have died from natural causes, and there are currently no indications of foul play. An autopsy is scheduled to take place at the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington to establish the official cause and manner of death.
Labonte had been incarcerated since 2003. Further updates on the investigation will be provided by Vermont State Police as new information becomes available. The charges related to the investigation are still pending, and legal proceedings may evolve as the case continues.
Source: Vermont State Police press release, view original report. This Vermont death investigation story highlights important developments.
Legal Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Court dates and charges are subject to change. This report is based on information provided by law enforcement and may be updated as more details become available. The Vermont death investigation situation continues to develop. The Vermont death investigation situation continues to develop.
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Source: Vermont State Police
Central Vermont Medical Center inmate death Southern State Correctional Facility Springfield VT Vermont State Police
Last modified: December 24, 2025
