Tragedy struck Henry County Jail last Thursday when Sterling Jamal Williams, a 30-year-old inmate from Hampton, was discovered dead in his cell. As reported by Atlanta News First, Williams was found unresponsive with a sheet around his neck, tied to the bed during a routine cell check. Despite efforts from jail staff and Henry County Fire Rescue, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Williams' death is now ongoing, led by the Internal Affairs Unit of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. However, the cause of death has not been immediately disclosed. Williams had been held at the facility since April 5, 2024, on a disorderly conduct charge. The sheriff's office did not immediately provide details on how Williams initially came to quickly be taken into custody.
WSBTV also covered the incident, confirming Williams' identity and the date of his booking at the county jail. Their report also emphasized that the deputies had not commented on the circumstances surrounding Williams' arrest or his charge.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office has made no further statements about potential policy reviews or changes in the wake of Williams' death. The community and Williams' family await the conclusion of the probe that seeks to uncover the full circumstances of how Williams ended up dead. People are looking for assurances such tragedies will not continue to happen within the walls of Henry County Jail.
