SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Sumter County inmate found unresponsive in his cell on Wednesday has died, authorities say.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, inmate 59-year-old George Gregory Anderson Sr. received medication on schedule on Tuesday night at the Sumter-Lee Detention Center and was seen again during routine bed checks early Wednesday morning. However, the sheriff's department said a detention officer found Anderson unresponsive while waking inmates for breakfast the same morning.
"Immediately, officers rendered aid and activated emergency procedures," the sheriff's office said. "Every means available was used in an attempt to resuscitate Anderson."
The sheriff's office said those efforts included using an automated external defibrillator. He was then taken to Prisma Health Tuomey but ultimately died.
The sheriff's office said Anderson's cause of death is still under review, pending an autopsy. However, authorities said Anderson had "an extensive medical history" and had recently been released from a medical facility.
"We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Anderson's family and wish to commend our Detention Center's staff for their response to this emergency," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said.
Dennis has asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to assist in the investigation and said he would withhold further comment until the agency offers its findings.
Authorities said Anderson was in jail on charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and contempt of court.