Inmate found dead at Rowan County jail; officials say natural causes

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 14, 2014

A Rowan County Detention Center inmate from Cleveland was found unresponsive in his bunk at about 11:30 a.m. today and later pronounced dead following unsuccessful life-saving efforts, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Vernon Mitchell Hall, 62, was admitted from the court on Feb. 7 when he was sentenced to serve a 28-day sentence for driving while impaired.
Authorities said Hall ate breakfast this morning and made no complaints about medical issues.
After eating breakfast, Hall reportedly lay down on his bunk where he later was found to be unresponsive.
Detention center personnel attempted to revive Hall until Rowan emergency service crews arrived to take over life-saving efforts — which eventually were unsuccessful.
The N.C. Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy on the body to determine cause of death.
Officials said there were no signs of trauma to the body and no signs of any type of foul play found.
This is the second time in just over a month an inmate has died at the county jail.
Timothy Lamonte Barber, 51, of Salisbury, was found unresponsive in his bunk at shortly before 11 p.m. on Jan. 10. Emergency responders tried to revive him, but could not. He also apparently died of natural causes, officials said.