Inmate Murdered in North Carolina Prison
A middle school gym teacher, who had referred to himself as a “pig,” was killed in his North Carolina prison cell on Sunday. Ernest Nichols, 60, had been serving time for repeatedly raping a 15-year-old girl.
Convicted of statutory rape in 2011, Nichols received a 15-year sentence after facing an astonishing 27 charges, including numerous sex crimes. Reports indicate he was arrested on these serious allegations.
Nichols was discovered dead in his cell at Greene Correctional Facility in Maury, North Carolina, around 6:50 a.m., prompting a lockdown in the prison.
By Tuesday, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office had issued a murder warrant for fellow inmate Wilbert Baldwin, who is currently serving a sentence for second-degree murder.
Nichols had spent 14 years working at Ranson Middle School in Charlotte and was suspended without pay as soon as school officials became aware of the accusations.
The victim, who was not a student at the school, reported that Nichols had raped her multiple times over six months in 2008. He had pretended to be his son on social media platforms like Facebook and MySpace to contact her.
Details from an arrest warrant reveal that Nichols sent the teen sexually explicit messages, crafted sexual stories, and made strange demands, including what she should say when showering.
The former teacher even coerced her into claiming she “desired” to engage in sexual activity if anyone inquired about their encounters, which took place at his parents’ home.
Before Nichols’ arrest, the young mother of the victim confronted him about the prolonged abuse. During this conversation, Nichols called her a “pig,” according to the warrant.
He was apprehended at his residence in October 2009, with police seizing videotapes, cameras, photographs, and other disturbing items found there.
During hearings, Nichols was notably uncooperative. When the judge asked him to respond, he repeatedly claimed that he was not a “straw man.” Even when bailiffs attempted to restrain him, he maintained he did not understand the charges against him.
Nichols was expected to complete his sentence in September 2027.
