Garner Inmate Survives

Suicide Attempt

A Garner Correctional Institution inmate who made a suicide attempt in his prison cell on the afternoon of July 29, survived the attempt and was reported to be a patient in Danbury Hospital on the morning of July 31.

State Department of Correction (DOC) spokesman Edward Ramsey said July 31 that inmate Lance Barrett, 30, attempted to hang himself in his cell about 3:25 pm on July 29. It was unclear whether Barrett was the sole occupant of the cell or had a cellmate.

On discovering Barrett unresponsive in his cell, prison officials called the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which transported Barrett under basic life support to Danbury Hospital, Ramsey said. The hospital would provide “no information” on Barrett on July 31.

Barrett had attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself with strips of bed sheets, Ramsey said.

Barrett was imprisoned in July 2002 and then sentenced in August 2002 on a violation of probation charge. The original criminal charge against Barrett was not available.