ELIZABETH CITY – A fourth Pasquotank Correction Institution employee has died from his injuries as a result of an unsuccessful escape attempt Oct. 12.
Geoffrey Howe, a maintenance mechanic for Pasquotank Correctional Institution, died Thursday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from injuries suffered during the failed attempt. The institution remains on lockdown, according to the NC Department of Public Safety.
“Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Howe family,” said Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks. “This tragedy has horribly impacted the lives of four families, as well as co-workers and friends.”
Howe, 31, had been with DPS since August 2016.
“Geoffrey Howe was a valued member of his community and his workplace and he will be greatly missed,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday night. “We send our heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones and wish for them comfort during this difficult time.
“We owe it to Geoffrey and his fallen coworkers to do all we can to keep an attack like the one that claimed their lives from ever happening inside our prisons again, and that’s what I’ve directed prison leaders to do.”
Correctional Officer Justin Smith, 35, who provided security at the facility’s sewing plant, and Enterprises Manager Veronica Darden, 50, who supervised inmates in the sewing plant, died during the Oct. 12 incident, says NC Department of Public Safety spokesman Keith Acree. Correctional Officer Wendy Shannon, 49, died Oct. 30.
The incident began about 3 p.m. when inmates started a fire in the prison’s specialty sewing plant, Acree said. The fire was extinguished, but several inmates attempted to escape during the fire, but were not successful.
Four inmates have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident. They are Wisezah Buckman, 29, Seth Frazier, 33, Mikel Brady, 28, and Jonathan Monk, 30.
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