19-Year-Old Inmate Dies at Chatham County Detention Center

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office reported one of its inmates died early Sunday morning: a teenager who had been in the county’s detention center for just more than one month.

A release from the office said 19-year-old Jaimarien Rayshaun Sellers was “found unresponsive” by his roommate shortly after midnight on Sunday in the Pittsboro facility. The sheriff’s office said guards observed Sellers as sleeping in his cell during an earlier routine check.

“After the roommate alerted detention officers that Sellers was unresponsive, officers immediately entered Sellers’ cell to administer CPR,” said the sheriff’s release. “Officers were unable to revive the inmate and contacted Emergency Medical Services.”

No cause of death was immediately apparent, according to Sunday’s alert. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating the matter and requested the State Bureau of Investigations’ assistance and for the state Medical Examiner to conduct an autopsy.

“Our hearts are with Mr. Sellers’ family in their time of loss,” said Sheriff Mike Roberson, “and we are doing everything we can to determine his cause of death.”

Sellers was a Siler City resident before his arrest. His tenure in the Chatham County Detention Center began on April 28, according to the sheriff’s office. He faced a variety of armed robbery charges stemming from an incident in August 2022, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, second degree kidnapping, and hit and run. His bond was $500,000 and was awaiting a pre-trial release.

Photo via Bordeaux Construction Company, Inc.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

19-Year-Old Inmate Dies at Chatham County Detention Center

On Air Now: 97.9 FM