Lincoln Horner
Lincoln Horner, 40, was a single father to a 14-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, and his mother, Joyce Holloman, says she is now caring for the children. He was found hanging from a ligature in his cell at the Watauga County Detention Center in Boone in January 2018 and died at Watauga Medical Center days later, with the autopsy listing asphyxia due to hanging and also noting head and neck contusions and abrasions. Sheriff Len Hagaman said jail staff responded quickly and followed medical protocol. A state investigation found he had been left alone for 45 minutes in a section of the jail evacuated after a sewage backup, and his mother says the family was never told about the supervision failures; the State Bureau of Investigation sent its report to the district attorney's office in June 2018, which is reviewing the file.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). A state investigation found staff left him alone for 45 minutes in a section of the jail evacuated after a sewage backup, and his mother says the family was never told about the supervision failures.
Reported by: Autopsy report (medical examiner or coroner); Sheriff Len Hagaman (the agency that held him); News & Observer (reporters); DHHS investigation (outside investigators); his mother.