Durham sheriff identifies man found dead in detention center cell
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Durham Sheriff’s Office says detention officers found inmate unresponsive at 4 a.m.
- Medical staff performed life-saving measures; inmate pronounced dead at facility.
- SBI, medical examiner and sheriff’s office launched joint probe; kin being notified.
A 47-year-old man housed in the Durham County Detention Facility was found dead in his cell Saturday morning, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ann Marie Breen identified the inmate as Kenneth Lamont McNeil Sunday and said his death did not appear to be a suicide. McNeil had been detained since March.
The sheriff’s office notified the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Saturday. Detention officers found McNeil unresponsive in his cell at 4 a.m., and medical staff began life-saving measures, the sheriff’s office said. He was pronounced dead at the facility.
The medical examiner, SBI and Durham County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.
McNeil was being held on failure to appear charges for various breaking and entering, larceny, assault and other misdemeanor offenses.
In November, the sheriff’s office said, he was indicted on one count of breaking and entering and one count of larceny after breaking and entering.
This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM.
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