Teen Collapsed and Died While Playing Basketball at Youth Development Center
A teen collapsed and died Sunday while playing basketball at the Augusta Youth Development Center on Mike Padgett Highway.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said 17-year-old Ozell Burch of Phenix City, Alabama was rushed to Wellstar MCG where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 pm.
An autopsy has been scheduled. Bowen said no foul play is suspected.
The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation handle the investigation.
Inmate at Augusta State Medical Prison Murdered
A teen collapsed and died Saturday in custody, while an inmate at Augusta State Medical Prison on Gordon Highway was murdered during an altercation Saturday at the facility.
The Georgia Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Roderick Hayes was killed during the altercation with inmates Brendon Moore and Andy Ulysse. Both have been charged with felony murder and aggravated assault.
Authorities have also charged a correctional officer who was on-duty at the time of the altercation.
Prison officials say 51-year-old Lloyd Hopkins was charged with being a party to the crime of murder, party to the crime of aggravated assault and violation of an oath of office. He was also terminated for failing to follow policies and procedures.
Hayes’ death is still under investigation by the Georgia Department of Corrections Office of Professional Standards, so officials further details are being withheld. His body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab to determine the cause of his death.
Hayes was serving a 10-year sentence for cruelty to children following his conviction in Fulton County. His record also included charges for sexual exploitation of a child, pimping a minor under 18, trafficking sexual servitude and burglary.
In addition to the charges connected to Hayes’ death, Moore was in custody serving time for rape, fleeing/eluding police, hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery, terroristic threats and acts, kidnapping and aggravated sodomy.
Ulysse is serving time for kidnapping, armed robbery, false imprisonment and theft by taking.
