An investigation is underway at Pasquotank Correctional Institution following the death of an inmate, suspected to be a case of suicide. On Friday evening, inmate Tyrus Sanders was discovered unresponsive in his cell at approximately 8:30 p.m., prompting immediate action by facility staff who administered life-saving measures, according to a statement posted by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Despite efforts to revive him, Sanders was pronounced dead by local EMS at 8:52 p.m. State law mandates that any death of a person in custody must be investigated. Consequently, both law enforcement and the state medical examiner have commenced their inquiries into the incident, while the Department of Adult Correction has expressed full cooperation, conducting its own internal review in tandem.
Sanders, 49, was serving time following a conviction for habitual felon and drug trafficking charges in July in Catawba County. He was not due for release until 2041.
In the aftermath of the incident, there’s a renewed focus on the mental health challenges faced by individuals within the corrections system. The Department of Adult Correction, while addressing the specifics of this case, has yet to comment, on broader efforts to prevent similar tragedies.
