Inmate's Death in Jail: Natural Causes, Health Challenges

0:00A 33-year-old inmate named Alvin Saunders died in Wake County, jail, back in October 2025, and now the autopsy report spells it. Outclear, natural causes from heart disease. He had an enlarged heart, plaque build-up in his arteries, and thickened heart walls, with no drugs or injuries playing a role. Saunders was locked up on a $100,000 bail, facing charges like felony assault on someone with a disability. He was housed in the psych unit, mostly alone in his cell for 23 hours a day, dealing with autism, mental health struggles, substance, issues, and past suicidal thoughts. Staff spotted him naked on the floor twice that morning. Once around midnight, again at breakfast, but didn't check deep until 7.09 a.m., when they found him unresponsive and started CPR. The state bureau of investigation looked into it, and District Attorney Lauren Freeman cleared any criminal foul play, closing the book on a tough. Case that highlights jail health challenges.

1:00Local news, powered by AI. This is Durham News Today. I'm Cory with The Story.