ST. JOHNSBURY — The man who died after being found unresponsive in downtown St. Johnsbury in February had suffered a “penetrating sharp injury” to his torso, records show.
St. Johnsbury resident Johnnie Simpson Jr., 45, died Feb. 12 from a heart problem caused by the injury, according to an amended death certificate from the state, first reported on Monday by the Caledonian Record.
The exact cause of death was a cardiac tamponade, which is pressure on the heart caused by accumulated blood or fluid that interferes with the organ’s ability to pump blood.
Chest injuries — most commonly stab wounds — can cause the deadly disorder, according to the Merck Manual, a widely used medical reference.
Little was known about the cable installation worker’s death. St. Johnsbury police found him on Railroad Street at about 3 p.m. that day, according to the Vermont State Police. He was taken to Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, where he died.
After conducting an autopsy, the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington ruled that Simpson’s death was suspicious.
A few days later, state police said, they learned Simpson had been dropped off at Ocean State Job Lot, a store in the Green Mountain Mall on Memorial Drive, at about 1:30 p.m. He was seen walking south toward Railroad Street, wearing a reddish-orange winter jacket, investigators said.
At the time of his death, Simpson had been awaiting trial on charges he had kidnapped a preteen and stabbed his girlfriend in the neck two years ago. In the lead-up to that November 2019 standoff, he had been struggling with mental health issues and family members had been trying to get help for him, according to police records.
Asked in February if detectives are considering whether Simpson’s criminal case played a role in his death, Vermont State Police spokesperson Adam Silverman said: “We’re examining all possibilities connected to this case.”
