60-year-old Goose Creek Correctional inmate dies

WASILLA — The death of a 60-year old Goose Creek Correctional Center (GCCC) inmate Saturday was due to natural causes, according to Alaska State Troopers (AST) who investigated the case.

According to Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) officials, Daniel Mark Brusehaber of Anchorage was pronounced dead at 11:16 a.m. According to a DOC statement from the commissioner’s office, at 10:07 a.m. Brusehaber pushed his call button stating he was having difficulty breathing.

DOC officers and medical staff were first on the scene and began life-saving measures, according to the DOC statement. DOC officials said EMS personnel responded to the facility but Brusehaber was pronounced dead. Brusehaber had been lodged at GCCC since April 14 of this year for probation violations and DUI.

According to AST dispatch, it received the call at or about 10:49 a.m. that Brusehaber was deceased. Next of kin was notified. According to the DOC statement, the death of any prisoner in the state is reviewed by AST and the State Medical Examiner’s Office. DOC officials said, additionally, the department’s professional conduct unit will conduct its own internal investigation.

Brusehaber was the second inmate death this year for DOC. Nina Amigale Alexie was found unresponsive in her Hiland Mountain Correctional Facility cell Jan. 6 and died four days later. According to DOC officials, that death was ruled a homicide.

The DOC said its records are generally not subject to release due to contained confidential medical, security, and personnel information.