A judge dismissed the highly-publicized criminal case of a Bethel man who was accused of killing his girlfriend last month due to the fact both the victim and the defendant are now deceased.

As previously reported, the body of 34-year-old David MacDowell of Bethel was found inside of his cell just before 2:00 PM on Tuesday, September 3, by Bridgeport correction officers as they were doing their rounds. After officers, medical staff and firefighters all tried to revive MacDowell, he was pronounced dead by apparent suicide at a nearby hospital.

Officials say that MacDowell was alone at the time and the investigation of his death is ongoing.

David MacDowell was incarcerated after being accused of fatally stabbing an unidentified woman in the early hours of Saturday, August 24.

Police say that around the same time that Bethel officers responded to a Plumtrees Rd. residence after the victim's brother made a 911 call regarding the stabbing, MacDowell reportedly walked into the BPD and spoke with a dispatcher. He was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Although police have not yet identified the victim of the stabbing, they reported that they believe it was in fact a situation involving domestic violence.

Aside from the case being disposed at the hearing, the CT Post also reports that a motion was denied to have the documents of the case unsealed. The motion would have revealed the stabbing victim's identity, which as of this writing has still not yet been released.

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