Inmate who died had no medications

The state medical examiner has released a cause of death in the case of a 23-year-old woman sho died in the state prison in St. Albans about a day after she started serving a sentence for a probation violation. Police say Ashley Ellis weighed only 87 pounds because she suffered from anorexia. The investigation is not yet complete but the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as complications of anorexia and lack of access to medication. Ellis was reportedly taking Potassium to treat her anorexia. Vt. Corrections Commissioner Andy Pallito says a private health company is responsible for providing health services to Vermont inmates, and that DOC employees were not involved in treating Ellis or providing her medications. Vermont legal expert Cheryl Hanna said liability for the woman's death could fall to the medical service company or the state, depending on the facts. She also said criminal charges are possible pending the outcome of the police investigation.