Randolph Lester
Randolph Lester, known in Springfield's Mason Square neighborhood as The Preacher, was recognized for his wild white hair, beard and white collar, and had a devoted following in the city. He died in February 2017 at the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow, where he was being held before trial. According to a sheriff's department spokesman, staff found him unresponsive in his cell during a routine check, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff's office said the death was not considered suspicious, but the medical examiner had not yet given an official cause.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. The Sheriff's Department spokesman said the death was not considered suspicious, but the medical examiner had not yet given a cause of death.