Maine Man Found Hanging in Jail Cell

State Police say a man from Strong, Maine who was arrested last week for sexually assaulting a girl, was found hanging in his jail cell Monday night at the Franklin County jail.

35-year-old Stephen Tripp died early Tuesday at CMMC in Lewiston. Jail personnel found Tripp hanging from a bed sheet.

He was arrested Friday for gross sexual assault and possessing sexually explicit material of children under the age of 12. State Police began investigating Tripp in October after sexual photos of girls were found in his cell phone.

Working with Franklin Jail officials, State Police will investigate the death. State Police investigate all deaths of inmates inside Maine jails.