Central Prison on lockdown after inmates beat convicted sex offender to death

An inmate at Central Prison in Raleigh died after being assaulted with a weapon on Friday.

2022-09-09

Ronald Rhodes was beaten by other inmates on Friday morning in the recreation yard, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

The prison has been placed on lockdown as State Capitol Police investigate.

Rhodes was pronounced dead at 10:32 a.m. An exact cause of death has not been released.

Rhodes was housed in the prison as a safekeeper at the request of Wake County. A safekeeper is generally an offender who is housed at a state prison before their trial.

Rhodes was on the state sex offender registry and charged with numerous offenses related to sexual misconduct, including attempted rape, kidnapping and extortion in 2013.