A Vermont inmate died Monday at a private out-of-state prison in what state officials said was an apparent suicide.

Christopher Chase, 39, was discovered in his cell overnight at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi and pronounced dead at around 1 a.m., the Vermont Department of Corrections said. Officials believe he hanged himself.

Chase had been imprisoned since admitting to shooting his girlfriend, Sara Bragdon, in the head at her Guildhall home in 2008. He was serving a second-degree murder sentence of 20 years to life.

Vermont contracted with CoreCivic last year to house more than 200 state inmates at its Mississippi facility.
Chase was living in the general population unit and was not under special observation or suicide watch when he died, DOC Commissioner Mike Touchette said.

When Chase pleaded guilty in 2009, prosecutor Vince Illuzzi noted that he acted suicidal after shooting Bragdon, according to a news report from the time.

The department said it will conduct a standard review of Chase's death.