WARREN — Investigators are looking into a Maine State Prison inmate death that was originally reported to have been caused by a medical problem.

Denise Lord, associate corrections commissioner, says a probe by the attorney general’s office will provide the final word on the death of 52-year-old Victor Valdez last November.

Prison officials initially said his death was the result of a medical problem. But Judy Garvey, who represents the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, contends Valdez was beaten by prison guards.

She tells the Bangor Daily News that Valdez had trouble hearing and understood little English, and that guards beat him because he didn’t comply with orders a few days before his death.