STORMVILLE, N.Y. (WETM) — A man from Elmira who was serving a decades-long prison sentence for manslaughter and several other violent crimes has died while incarcerated in Dutchess County.
Death at Green Haven Correctional Facility
According to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), 36-year-old Joshua Demellier was found unresponsive outside his cell at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville on the evening of Sept. 8.
Correction officers and medical staff immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR, Narcan administration, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Emergency medical services arrived soon after and continued treatment. Despite their efforts, Demellier was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m. by a physician at a nearby hospital.
Sentence and Convictions
At the time of his death, Demellier was serving a sentence of 33 years in prison with an additional five years of post-release supervision. His convictions stemmed from a series of violent offenses, including:
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Burglary in the first degree
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Attempted murder in the second degree
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Criminal use of a firearm in the first degree
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Assault in the second degree
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Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree
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Manslaughter in the first degree
Manslaughter Plea in 2017
Demellier’s most serious conviction came in February 2017, when he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection with the 2014 stabbing death of 22-year-old Ellis Kittles. The killing, which occurred during the summer of 2014, shocked the Elmira community and led to a lengthy investigation and eventual plea deal.
In May 2017, a Chemung County judge sentenced Demellier for the crime. The manslaughter conviction carried significant weight, but it was compounded by additional charges that reflected a history of violent conduct.
Community Impact
The death of Ellis Kittles nearly a decade ago left a lasting impact on his family and the Elmira community. Friends and loved ones remembered him as a young man whose life was cut short far too soon. Demellier’s guilty plea, while avoiding a lengthy trial, provided some closure but did little to ease the grief of those affected.
Demellier’s own death in prison brings another chapter to a case that has spanned more than ten years. While officials have not released a cause of death, DOCCS confirmed that all required notifications have been made, and an official review of the incident is underway.
Ongoing Review
Deaths inside New York state prisons trigger an internal investigation, including a medical examiner’s review and procedural checks by DOCCS. The agency stated that its staff responded quickly and appropriately when Demellier was found unresponsive.
As of now, no further details about the cause of death have been disclosed.
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