DURHAM, NC (Sunday, December 7, 2025) -  On Saturday December 6, 2025, Mr. Kenneth Lamont McNeil, age 47, died while in custody at the Durham County Detention Facility.  McNeil was a Durham resident and had been detained since March 15, 2025 on 12 failure to appear charges for various breaking and entering, larceny, assault and other misdemeanor offenses alleged to have occurred in 2023.  In November, he was indicted on one count of breaking and entering and one count of larceny after breaking and entering.  His death does not appear to be a suicide and as required by law, is under review by the medical examiner who willl determine the cause. 


The following was released Saturday December 6 at 10:36 AM.
Earlier this morning, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office notified the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of the death of a detainee housed in the Durham County Detention Facility.

At/around 4:00 a.m. this morning, detention officers noticed the detainee unresponsive in his cell and medical staff began life-saving measures. He was later pronounced dead at the detention facility. The medical examiner, SBI and Durham County Sheriff’s Office are investigating. Officials are notifying next of kin.

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