William Surles
William Earl Surles, 64, of Dunn, was a retired farm worker who had severe diabetes and used a walker, and his daughter Lawanda Snead was looking forward to bringing him home in late December 2022. He was found dead in his bunk at the Harnett County jail on the morning of December 19, 2022, where he had been sharing a cell with another man. The N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing blunt force trauma to the head, and a grand jury has indicted that cellmate, Devonte Jamal Headen, for first-degree murder; an indictment is not a finding of guilt. His family's lawsuit against the Harnett County Sheriff and several jail employees says he was housed with a violent man while in a weakened medical state and that his death was unnecessary and preventable. A state DHHS investigation found that detention officers did not perform the required number of checks in the hours before his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide from blunt force trauma to the head, and his family's lawsuit says jail employees housed him with a violent inmate while he was medically weakened and failed to supervise him properly.
Reported by: N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Harnett County jail (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family sued the Harnett County Sheriff and several jail employees, alleging the death was preventable because he was housed with a violent inmate while in a weakened medical state; no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (6)
- 'I want to know:' Family wants answers after inmate found dead in Harnett County
- Autopsy finds Harnett County jail inmate died from assault 10 days before his release
- Harnett County inmate found dead in December was killed by blows to the head and face, autopsy says
- Man faces murder charge after Harnett County inmate dies in cell
- Cellmate charged with murdering infirm, 64-year-old man inside Harnett County jail
- Family of man found dead in Harnett County jail files lawsuit against sheriff, others