GEORGIA — An inmate at the Troup County Jail died Saturday morning after being found unresponsive in his dorm, marking the second inmate death at the facility in the past month, according to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said jail staff were alerted around 2:40 a.m. that 70-year-old George Ellis was unresponsive in his dorm area. Detention officers immediately began life-saving measures until the Troup County Fire Department and emergency medical personnel arrived minutes later.
Ellis was transported to Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities said his cause of death is unknown at this time.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into Ellis’ death, and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause.
Ellis had been in custody on a sexual battery charge, according to deputies.
The death is the second inmate fatality reported at the jail this year. One month earlier, 44-year-old Montavious Rhodes was also found unresponsive during a morning meal period and later died at the same hospital. Authorities have not released a cause of death in that case.
The investigation remains ongoing.
