Over the weekend, a death occurred within the walls of Central Prison, drawing an air of somber investigatory formality to the facility. As reported by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, inmate Paul Pellini, identified by inmate number #1757361, was discovered unresponsive outside his cell on Saturday afternoon. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by staff and the summoning of EMS, Pellini was pronounced dead by 3:51 p.m., a mere 16 minutes after being found.
The circumstances leading to Pellini's death have pointed to suicide, but an autopsy and official determination are pending. Being the standard protocol when someone dies in custody, the State Capital Police and the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner have taken up the investigation, as required by law. Connected to this inquiry, the NC Department of Adult Correction is conducting its own internal investigation, determined to fully understand the events of Pellini's death.
Pellini, 54, had been in the custody of Central Prison as a safekeeper since April 2, awaiting trial for serious allegations. Detained on behalf of Currituck County, he faced charges including rape and sexual exploitation of a minor. These charges are inherently grave, necessitating a secure facility like Central Prison for holding individuals accused of such offenses. With investigations ongoing, details surrounding the death remain sparse.
