Officials identify Maine woman who died hours after booking at Penobscot Jail

Officials identified an inmate who died hours after being booked at the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor over the weekend. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office identified the inmate as Jodi Melanson, 39, of Eastport, in a social media post on Thursday. She was arrested by Bangor police at approximately 11:50 a.m. on Saturday and transported to the jail, [the sheriff’s office said](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/23/inmate-dies-at-the-penobscot-county-jail/) in a news release earlier this week. Medical staff conducted a routine screening and intake process, the sheriff’s office said. Unable to post bail, Melanson remained in custody, was assigned a housing cell and continued communicating with correctional staff without issue. At about 9:35 p.m., corrections officers discovered her unresponsive in her cell during a routine inmate population check. Medical staff began lifesaving measures and were assisted by Bangor ambulance personnel, but she could not be resuscitated, the sheriff’s office said. Officials said Melanson was not involved in any reported fights with staff or other inmates. Preliminary information indicated she had a medical event, but the cause and manner of death are under investigation, the sheriff’s office said.  Reports from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and the Maine Department of Corrections were still pending Thursday. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [penobscot county](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/penobscot-county/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) [Drew JohnsonStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. [More by Drew Johnson](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson)