Conn. prison spokesman, ex-reporter Garnett dies

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Brian Garnett, the spokesman for the Connecticut prison system and a former television and radio reporter, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 57.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said in a statement Monday that their prayers are with Garnett's family, and his work in the Correction Department's communications and legislative units will be missed.

He died Sunday.

Before working for state government, Garnett was a reporter at WPOP-AM and Hartford's CBS affiliate, WFSB-TV, where he covered crime and state government for years. He was the Department of Correction's director of external affairs for the past dozen years.

The department's website says Garnett got a bachelor's degree in communication/broadcast journalism from the American University in Washington, D.C.

Funeral arrangements haven't been announced.