Mecklenburg jail inmate last seen ‘jovial and vibrant’ found dead in cell, sheriff says
A Mecklenburg County jail inmate last seen “jovial and vibrant” by staff was found dead in his cell Wednesday morning, Sheriff Garry McFadden said.
Willie Frank Burks, 45, was found unresponsive in his cell at about 10:30 a.m., according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Staff and first responders performed CPR on Burks before taking him to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 11:10 a.m., according to the release.
“We are hurt, our staff is grieving,” McFadden said in the release. “This is a very emotional time for our agency.”
“I have personally spoken to Mr. Burks’ family regarding his passing and mourn with them during this difficult time,” the sheriff said.
Burks has been in custody at the jail since June 6, 2019, McFadden. Why Burks was in custody was not immediately known late Wednesday.
“There were no signs of foul play and no signs of a fever,” McFadden said in the release.
The State Bureau of Investigation will investigate while the medical examiner’s office determines the cause of death, according to the sheriff.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 7:50 PM.