Blair Medford dies in fatal Wake County hanging
Fatal Wake County hanging death of Blair Medford
Blair Medford’s life came to an end tragically within the walls of the Wake County Public Safety Center. The incident unfolded during the early evening hours within the detention facility where Medford was being held. Reports indicate Medford, aged 37, intentionally obstructed the observation point within his cell using his own clothing, a jumpsuit, before the fatal event transpired.
Subsequent state records detail that correctional officers conducted routine cell inspections four separate times over the subsequent two-hour period. Despite these mandated checks, the staff members did not enter Medford’s cell to remove the obstruction or conduct a thorough assessment of his well-being during this time frame.
At precisely 8:00 PM, the doors of Medford’s cell were opened as part of the scheduled recreation period. It was during this time that fellow inmates discovered the 37-year-old male hanging from a sheet that had been secured to the ceiling. Medford’s personal struggles, which included a long-standing battle with substance abuse, were well-documented.
North Carolina state regulations stipulate that incarcerated individuals must be evaluated at least every two hours while in custody, with more frequent checks required for those deemed medically fragile or emotionally unstable. According to the official documentation, Medford was placed under the standard twice-daily supervision protocol.
Following the completion of its investigation into Medford’s untimely demise, the state Department of Health and Human Services formally reported the significant supervision lapse to multiple Wake County authorities, including the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the county commissioners’ chairwoman, and the county manager. This notification occurred approximately six weeks after the tragic incident.
Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe ultimately removed three detention officers from their positions. In response to the DHHS findings, the sheriff also pledged to equip all correctional staff with body-worn cameras. Jean Medford, the mother of the deceased, was informed by the newspaper that obtained the records rather than receiving direct communication from the authorities regarding the incident.
Ms. Medford expressed profound disappointment regarding the lack of notification. She stated that she learned of the oversight failures only through the reporting by The News & Observer. Her frustration was evident as she shared her feelings about the situation.
Wake County officials, Sheriff Rowe and Detention Director Dail Butler, chose not to participate in an interview regarding the details of Medford’s death. However, a statement released by the sheriff confirmed the disciplinary actions taken. Rowe detailed that the three employees involved had been terminated following an internal agency investigation. Dismissal letters dated June 5th were cited as evidence of these personnel changes.
The statement from Sheriff Rowe emphasized the agency’s commitment to safety, stating, “We take seriously the responsibility to ensure the safety of all individuals in our custody and will continue to advance that priority.”
In response to the DHHS report, Butler communicated specific plans to the state agency. These plans included the implementation of body-worn cameras for all detention officers, which the official stated would enhance monitoring procedures and mitigate future risks. The letter noted, “Body Worn Cameras will have the ability to playback all daily incidents,” adding that any undocumented incidents could lead to disciplinary measures, potentially including termination.
Furthermore, Butler announced that retraining programs on supervision protocols would be instituted. The state agency accepted these proposed measures as sufficient to address the identified issues.
This incident is part of a larger pattern of similar occurrences documented by The News & Observer across North Carolina’s correctional facilities. Previous investigations have uncovered numerous cases of inadequate supervision leading to inmate deaths.
For instance, a 2013 incident at the Durham County jail involved an inmate who placed a towel over his cell window before taking his own life. The state investigation revealed the individual remained unobserved for nearly six consecutive hours. The detention officer assigned responsibility for monitoring was subsequently dismissed.
Another similar case occurred in 2019 within a Cleveland County holding cell. An inmate was subjected to fatal physical assault while incarcerated with a severely damaged window, preventing adequate visual oversight. This incident resulted in a substantial financial settlement for the county.
Legal actions stemming from these incidents and others have imposed significant costs on North Carolina counties. In the Cleveland County case, the county settled a wrongful death claim for $347,500. More recently, Davie County agreed to a $250,000 settlement related to the 2016 suicide of Victoria Short, partly due to failures in supervision and notification.
Legal experts emphasize that jails cannot avoid accountability for known risks. Attorneys representing Short’s estate argued that even with existing policies, compliance was essential to prevent such tragedies. They noted, “They have an obligation to have good policies that everyone knows about and enforces… If they had complied with their policy, this person who suffered from drug abuse and mental health problems wouldn’t have died that morning.”
The Medford family is currently contemplating legal counsel to explore potential recourse. Ms. Medford conveyed her deep concern, stating, “I don’t want another family to go through this because of negligence… I don’t want another mother to get a knock on their door in the middle of the night because of somebody not doing their job.”
According to state records, Medford was one of 62 inmates to pass away while in custody within North Carolina jails last year. This figure represents a slight decrease from the 63 reported deaths the previous year, marking the first reduction in this statistic since 2016 according to DHHS data.
Of the 62 deaths in 2024, 43 involved individuals who passed away while physically confined within jail facilities, a number three less than the 46 who died in custody the year before. DHHS identified supervision failures as a contributing factor in 17 of these 2024 fatalities, equating to over a third of the total.
Wake County reported the highest number of jail-related deaths in the Raleigh-Fayetteville-Greensboro region in 2024. While the DHHS found no supervisory issues with three other recent Wake County deaths, one inmate, Ralph Pope Jr., passed away at the Central Prison in Raleigh.
Suicide continues to be the leading cause of death among individuals held in North Carolina county jails, with 12 such incidents reported in 2024.
Blair Medford’s sister shared memories of her brother’s challenging youth in Gastonia. She recalled that he began experimenting with marijuana and cocaine during high school. Following graduation, she stated he held no consistent employment for extended periods. Multiple drug-related arrests occurred throughout his adult life, culminating in his current incarceration on charges related to cocaine trafficking and possession.
Despite his difficult circumstances, his sister noted his unique personality. She described Blair’s exceptional storytelling abilities and his innate connection with animals. She recalled, “You couldn’t even go up to a dog park with him because every dog would come up to him.”
It has been approximately 15 years since the family’s last direct contact with Blair. She reflected on his difficult existence, asserting, “He had a very hard life,” but firmly believed, “It doesn’t mean he should have died in jail.”
