WINDHAM — A cancer patient who recently sought lower bail during her trial for arson, died in prison Thursday, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Corrections.

Mary Hoskins, formerly of North Anson, was found dead at 2 a.m. at Maine Correctional Center in Windham. She was 50.

The cause of death was “apparently due to natural causes,” the release stated.

Hoskins was convicted of arson in Somerset County Superior Court last month and sentenced to eight years in Maine Correctional Center in Windham, with all but two years suspended, and four years probation.

In 2008, Hoskins and her son, Neal Hoskins, set fire to her mobile home in North Anson to collect insurance. Neal Hoskins was sentenced on Sept. 7.

During the October trial, Mary Hoskins’ attorney, Andrew Ketterer, asked Judge John Nivson to reduce Hoskins’s bail because she had terminal cancer.

At the time, Ketterer said Hoskins had six to 12 months to live.

Nivson denied the request, and Hoskins remained in Somerset County Jail.

Hoskins began her sentence Nov. 10, and was transferred to Windhamon Monday, according to Maj. David Allen, jail administrator at Somerset County Jail.

Allen said Hoskins appeared to be in fair health at the time of her transfer.

“She seemed to be doing extremely well here,” Allen said. “It was actually kind of a shocker when we heard about it today.”

In 1998, Hoskins was convicted along with her now-deceased husband, Paul Hoskins, for setting fire to their home in Salem Township.

Ben McCanna — 861-9239

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