Man charged in 1973 killing of Conn. woman dies after found unresponsive in cell
Suffield, Conn. – SUFFIELD, Conn. (AP) – A man charged last month in the 1973 murder of a Connecticut woman has died while serving time for kidnapping and sexual assault in another cold case.
George Legere, 77, was found unresponsive in his cell Friday evening at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. He was pronounced dead early Saturday at a local hospital, the Department of Correction said Tuesday.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the cause of death is “pending investigation.”
Legere, who had a lengthy criminal history, was arrested Sept. 24 while serving a 25-year sentence in another cold case for kidnapping and sexual assault. Police charged him with murder after he confessed to fatally stabbing Janet Couture, 21, in her East Hartford apartment while trying to steal drug money, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
“I went into the apartment looking for money and unfortunately the person woke up and recognized me and that left me no choice to do what I did,” Legere said, according to police. “I ended up stabbing her.”
Investigators said Legere’s confession followed information from another inmate, who told police that Legere admitted to killing Couture and wrote and signed a confession in July, asking the inmate not to release him until he died.
The Connecticut Department of Correction and Connecticut State Police are investigating Legere’s death.
