Rutland defendant dies after two days in jail

A woman serving a 30-day jail sentence for traffic-related convictions died at the jail on Sunday. 23-year-old Ashley Ellis was pronounced dead at Northwestern Medical Center, just two days after arriving at the state women's correctional facility. She was sentenced two weeks ago in Rutland District Court after conviction for negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Ellis was originally charged with a felony for causing an accident that disabled a Mount Tabor man. A Rutland jury acquitted her of the felony charge. At her most recent court appearance in Rutland, Ellis apologized to 44-year-old Scott Allen for the accident that left him confined to a wheelchair. A preliminary review by a medical director with the Department of Corrections found indications her death was from natural causes.