Convicted killer accused in prison stabbing

WARREN – The Maine State Prison inmate accused of assaulting another prisoner last week was identified Tuesday as a Lewiston man serving a 58-year sentence for stabbing to death a Bates College senior during a street brawl.

Brandon Thongsavanh, 23, is suspected of stabbing another inmate April 18 with a homemade weapon.

Last week, Warden Jeffrey Merrill said a razor blade was used in the April 18 attack, but at the time Merrill would not identify any of the inmates who were involved.

Investigators are reviewing video surveillance cameras and interviewing prisoners to determine if charges should be filed against Thongsavanh, Merrill said.

Thongsavanh was sent to Maine State Prison for the 2002 fatal stabbing of Morgan McDuffee, a Bates College senior who was stabbed five times during a late-night brawl in Lewiston.

Thongsavanh is now accused of luring another inmate with whom he had a dispute into his cell and stabbing him in the chest and leg. The prison would not discuss details of the dispute or what may have led to the attack.

The wounds to the victim, who was not identified, are not considered life-threatening.

In cases of prison crime, prison officials investigate a case and leave it up to the district attorney as to how to proceed, District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said.

“They complete their investigation and forward their findings to us,” Rushlau said.