Offender David Atkins (#1465138) died Oct. 1 at Piedmont Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 7:48 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the offender. He was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. at the facility.
Press Releases
At approximately 8:40 a.m. today at Scotland Correctional Institution, inmate Cadarius Thomas (#0821718) was involved in an assault on one correctional employee. Additional staff were called in to assist. The employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Inmate Thomas was treated locally at the Scotland medical facility.
The assault occurred in the canteen area of a housing unit at the prison. That housing unit has been placed on lock down.
Initial estimates for crop damage and livestock losses to North Carolina’s agriculture industry are expected to be over $1.1 billion, based on assessments following Hurricane Florence. That number easily tops the $400 million seen following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
The overwhelming generosity of the public in the wake of Hurricane Florence is helping affected communities to start healing from the consequences of this disaster. However, a deluge of donated items can quickly exceed the needs of the affected communities, requiring supporting agencies to redirect manpower away from providing direct services needed by survivors to managing donated goods that may not meet survivors’ needs. Therefore, the State of North Carolina is asking you not to donate unsolicited goods at this time.
Interstate 95 through North Carolina is now reopened to all traffic, Governor Roy Cooper announced Sunday night. Floodwaters that covered the interstate following Hurricane Florence receded quicker than expected, allowing the North Carolina Department of Transportation to complete the inspections and repairs needed to reopen the road.
Governor Roy Cooper’s message to anyone traveling in North Carolina remained consistent and straightforward Saturday morning—stay away from areas with flooded roads in southeastern North Carolina.
The governor stressed avoiding areas east of Interstate 95 and south of U.S. 70. As of Saturday morning, there are about 550 areas on state-maintained roads and highways closed because of Hurricane Florence. Interstates 40 and 95 continue to be under water in several locations.
State Highway Patrol, emergency response and transportation officials are urging motorists not to travel in many areas in southeastern North Carolina because many roads remain impassable due to flooding and road conditions are continuing to change.
Travel is not recommended in the following counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, western Craven (west of U.S. 17), Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, southern Johnston (south of U.S. 70), Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland and southern Wayne (south of U.S. 70 Business).
Governor Roy Cooper today reminded North Carolinians to avoid flooded roads and be alert for rising rivers even as the sun begins to shine across the state.
“Days after Florence first hit our state, we continue to feel the effects of this massive storm,” Gov. Cooper said. “Even though there is no substantial rain in the forecast and the sun may be shining across many parts of our state, rivers continue to rise and we will see more flooding."
Florence has now claimed the lives of 26 people in North Carolina.
The governor again urged people to:
Governor Roy Cooper continued to urge North Carolinians today to stay in safe shelter and remain alert to changing conditions due to remnants of Hurricane Florence including significant flooding.
“For many parts of North Carolina, the danger is still immediate. Flood waters are rising as rivers crest and will for days,” Gov. Cooper said. “I urge if you, if you don’t have to drive, stay off the roads, particularly south of U.S. 64. And don’t drive around barricades on roads."
Death row inmate Rowland Hedgepeth (#0176701) died today at 1:05 p.m. of natural causes at the Central Prison Healthcare Complex.
Hedgepeth, 67, was convicted in Halifax County and sentenced to death in November 1987 for the first-degree murder of Richard Casey. He was also convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury on his estranged wife, Beverly.