BREAKING: An urgent investigation is underway following the death of Sandi Hill, a 51-year-old inmate at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Charlotte, NC. Hill was found unresponsive in her cell on Saturday night and was later pronounced dead at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center, raising serious concerns about inmate safety and care.
Authorities report that detention officers responded to a medical emergency at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. Attempts to resuscitate Hill continued during her transport to the hospital, but she tragically passed away shortly after arrival. Sheriff Garry McFadden expressed his condolences, stating,
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of Ms. Hill, who was in our custody.”
The sheriff’s office has notified Hill’s family and committed to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation led by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
Hill had been detained since May 23, 2023, on charges of common law robbery. Notably, her health information has not been disclosed due to federal privacy laws, leaving many questions unanswered about the conditions leading up to her death.
This incident marks the third fatality at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center since August 2023, following the deaths of two male inmates within weeks of each other. These alarming trends are prompting urgent calls for scrutiny regarding the treatment and conditions of inmates in local detention facilities.
The SBI’s involvement is standard procedure for any in-custody death, and the medical examiner will conduct an investigation to determine the precise cause of Hill’s death, which could provide critical insights into the events surrounding her passing.
As the community grapples with these developments, many are left wondering: what measures will be taken to ensure the safety of inmates in the future? The implications of this investigation will likely resonate throughout the judicial and correctional systems in North Carolina.
Stay tuned as more details emerge in this developing story.
