According to police reports, the Vermont State Police are investigating the death of 68-year-old Gregory H. Penn, who passed away while in custody at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, when authorities were notified around 9:40 p.m. that Penn had died in the prison infirmary, where he was receiving palliative care for a terminal illness.
Police say that Penn was pronounced dead shortly before 9:30 p.m. The investigation, conducted by a detective from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, is standard procedure in such cases. Preliminary findings indicate that the death does not appear suspicious. An autopsy, performed by the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, confirmed that the cause of death was complications from an ongoing medical issue, labeling it as natural.
Penn had been incarcerated since December 2008 following convictions for aggravated sexual assault and attempted sexual assault, serving a 40-year sentence. As the investigation continues, police report that no further details are available, and inquiries should be directed to the Department of Corrections. Charges against Penn are not applicable in this context, as he was an inmate at the time of his passing.
Source: Vermont State Police
About this report AI-assisted
Source: Vermont State Police ↗
How this was written: This story was drafted with AI assistance from public-record sources and published under VTScout's editorial standards. Spot something wrong? Request a correction.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and court dates are subject to change. Reporting is based on information from law enforcement and public records, and will be updated as more details become available.
The VTScout newsroom covers Vermont local news, public safety, and community life across the four regions of the state. Tips and corrections welcome at [email protected].