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WESTPORT, Conn. A Barcelona-based newspaper reports that Andrew Robert Levene, the suspect in the Dec. 8 murder of Westport jeweler Yekutiel Zeevi, hanged himself in his prison cell with clothing.
The Associated Press reports a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Madrid said American officials were notified of Levene's death Thursday but did not say how he died. The statement said Spanish authorities were investigating his death.
La Vanguardia, a Spanish-language newspaper headquartered in Barcelona, reports that Levene, 41, was found dead in his cell at Barcelona's Modelo prison, where he was being held pending extradition to Connecticut.
The newspaper reports that sources close to the case say Levene hanged himself using items in his cell, such as clothing.
Levene was arrested Monday in Barcelona by Spanish National Police on federal murder, robbery and firearms charges in the robbery and murder at Y.Z. Jewelry Manufacturing, Zeevi's Post Road East business.
Zeevi, 65, was fatally shot during the robbery, in which the suspect made off with six diamonds, worth $300,000. Zeevi's associate, 48-year-old Ronen Konfino of New York, was critically wounded.
Levene was arrested after a seven-week investigation that included Westport police, state police, U.S. Marshals and the FBI. Levene was tracked, in part, by his cellphone.
According to an affidavit released by authorities, Levene has a wife and two children. On Sept. 7, Levene and his family flew to Barcelona, one of many trips to Spain that Levene took before the murder. His family is still believed to be in Spain.
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