The uncle of a man who allegedly hung himself in the Lenoir County Detention Center earlier this week says his nephew’s death “doesn’t fit his character.”
The family of Matthew Powell, 39, said today that an autopsy already has been completed in Greenville and the body has been released to a local funeral home.
Elvis Washington, Powell’s uncle, said the incident at the jail happened either Wednesday or Thursday and family members were notified on Thursday of Powell’s death. The sheriff’s office hasn’t been as forthcoming with information as the family would like, and family members are suspicious about what really happened.
“Most of our information is coming from other inmates,” Washington said.
Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said a statement on the incident would be released late this afternoon. Washington said his nephew, whom he primarily raised, was reported to have hung himself in his cell with a sheet. Powell had been in the jail for about three days for a child support violation, which he was contesting.
Check Kinston.com and Saturday's edition of The Free Press for more information on this developing story.