[V]ermont State Police officials confirmed Monday that a woman identified as a victim in a sexual assault case involving a state senator has died.
The woman, age 57, was an alleged victim of Sen. Norm McAllister, R-Franklin, who was arrested last month on three counts of sexual assault and lewd and lascivious conduct. McAllister pleaded not guilty to all of the charges May 8 in Franklin Superior Court in St. Albans.
Police received a call Saturday that the Franklin County woman had died, state police spokesman Scott Waterman confirmed Monday. At this point, he said, there are โno signs of foul play.โ
The cause of death has not yet been determined. Police are awaiting results of a toxicology report and an autopsy.
Waterman could not comment on how the death might impact the case against McAllister. A call to Franklin County Stateโs Attorney Jim Hughesโ office was not returned.
The Burlington Free Press first reported the womanโs death.
McAllister, a 63-year-old dairy farmer, was arrested outside the Statehouse last month and was arraigned on three charges of sexual assault and lewd and lascivious conduct.
The Senate Republican has not resigned his seat, though other lawmakers, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Lt. Gov. Phil Scott have called on him to do so.
McAllister is in his second term as a state senator.
