David Whittington
David Whittington, 25, grew up fishing, climbing trees and skateboarding in McDowell County, according to his aunt, Debbie Lambert, who still lives there. He was held at Piedmont Correctional Institution in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died on January 19, 2025, after hanging himself with a bed sheet in a solitary confinement cell, days after being placed there. The state medical examiner's report lists the manner of death as suicide, and his family said they removed him from life support on the day he died. His family says he had a long history of serious mental illness and a previous suicide attempt, and that prison staff should have watched him more closely.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The state medical examiner's report says he hanged himself with a bed sheet, and his family says prison staff should have watched him more closely.
Reported by: state medical examiner's report (medical examiner or coroner); family; Department of Corrections (the agency that held him).