Inmate commits suicide at Ash Street Jail Friday morning

A 59-year-old male inmate committed suicide at the Ash Street Jail early Friday morning.

Mark B. Trafton was found in distress in his cell by a Bristol County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer during regular rounds around 4:45 a.m. Friday morning. Corrections officers immediately called 911 and started performing emergency medical care. EMS personnel arrived shortly after and joined Bristol County staff in performing emergency medical care. Mr. Trafton was pronounced dead by EMS around 5 a.m.

The incident is being investigated by Mass. State Police assigned to the Bristol County District
Attorney’s Office and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit.

Mr. Trafton met with a mental health professional on Wednesday and his attorney on Thursday, and didn’t give any indication in either meeting to wanting to take his own life, nor did he have any prior history or exhibit any suicidal behaviors or statements since he arrived in custody of the Sheriff’s Office in September 2018.

On Friday, Mr. Trafton was scheduled to face a judge and enter a plea on multiple charges of aggravated rape, charges that may have resulted in more than a decade in state prison.

“We offer our condolences to his family and we’re keeping not only them but everyone involved in this incident in our prayers,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said.