Robbie Mufuta of South Burlington, awaiting trial for second-degree murder, and William McLaughlin of Bennington (see center, right with bag over woman’s head) were transported from prison to the hospital after suffering overdoses.

By Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First

A handful of inmates at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans were treated for possible drug overdoses on Tuesday night November 12, authorities have confirmed.

Two high-profile and dangerous inmates were seriously overcome and had to be rushed by AmCare Ambulances and correctional guards to Northwest Medical Center in St. Albans for advanced treatment, officials said.

At least one other inmate was handled by the staff at the prison, which has Narcan available for these kinds of cases.

Authorities said the two transported inmates were identified as: Mbyayenge “Robbie” Mafuta, 23, of South Burlington and William D. McLaughlin, 44, of Bennington and Troy, N.Y.

Mufuta is awaiting trial on a charge of second-degree murder in the beating death of fellow inmate, Jeffrey Hall, 55, of Burlington, records show. Hall was beaten in the cell they shared in St. Albans in December 2023 and he remained hospitalized until he died March 10, records show. Mufuta was initially charged with attempted murder, but it was upgraded when Hall died, records show.

Mafuta has had ongoing mental health issues and had been detained initially after a series of property crimes in the Burlington area, records show.

McLaughlin pleaded not guilty in federal court in October to being part of a violent conspiracy distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine in Southern Vermont. He was captured in a photograph holding a plastic bag over the head of a woman that he was threatening, officials said.

McLaughlin, who has been charged as a habitual offender in state court in Bennington, also has stabbed a man and fired shots into an apartment on Benmont Avenue in April 2022, records show.

McLaughlin, who is suspected of having ties to The Bloods street gang, also pleaded not guilty in federal court to possession of a Taurus 9-mm pistol on May 3, 2022 while being a multi-time convicted felon, records show.

Prison Superintendent Greg Hale said he was unable to comment on any specific medical cases.

He did acknowledge that two unnamed inmates taken from their cellblock to the St. Albans hospital at dinnertime were brought back to the prison the same night.

Hale said the corrections department is investigating the incident and Vermont State Police will be called in if anything criminal is determined.

He said the corrections department fights to keep drugs out of the prison, but there are so many ways for people to smuggle illegal substances into the facility.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Bram Kranichfeld, who had been in a jury trial this week, said he had not heard about the incident until taking a phone call from Vermont News First.

It was not immediately known what drug was involved.

A supervisor for the Vermont Drug Task Force said the tolerance for illegal drugs by inmates inside any prison goes down when detained due to the forced sobriety. However, a sudden use of a dangerous drug after forced sobriety can cause a major reaction, he said.

He said the Vermont drug scene is ever-changing and is increasingly dangerous.

“Heroin has not been heroin for years. It is fentanyl,” he said.