SBI investigating death of Pender County Jail inmate

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The SBI is investigating after an inmate in the Pender County Jail died this morning.

A Pender County Sheriff’s Office spokesman says jail staff found Norris Winfred Murphy, 51, of Burgaw unresponsive on the floor of his cell. The staff immediately called for EMS and started first aid, but he died.

Murphy was arrested yesterday for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The Sheriff’s Office there were no other inmates in the cell with Murphy during his incarceration. The Sheriff’s Office asked the SBI to investigate because Murphy was in custody at the time of his death.