Man Found Dead in Durham County Jail Cell

A man being held at the Durham County Detention Facility was found dead in his cell this morning, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The man was not identified and a press release included no information about a possible cause of death. The State Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate and more information is expected to be released once the man's family is notified.

Here's the full statement:

This morning, Sunday May 27, just after 8:00 am Durham County EMS was called to the Detention Center regarding an inmate who was found unresponsive in his cell. First responders on scene gave aid to the man until paramedics arrived and took over. After attempts to revive him were unsuccessful he was declared deceased.

At the request of Sheriff Mike Andrews, the SBI was called to investigate.

Identification of the person will be released pending next of kin notification.

An update will be sent when more information is available.

His death is the seventh at the jail since 2013.

Last March, seventeen-year-old Uniece Glenae Fennell was found hanged in her cell. A state investigation found jail staff had not heeded a report from another inmate that Fennell had spoken about harming herself. James Earl Staton Jr. died in November. According to an autopsy, Staton died of heart issues.