Inmate Death In MD Prison Under Investigation

CUMBERLAND, MD — Maryland State Police are investigating the weekend death of a state prison inmate in Allegany County.

The inmate, identified as Billy Sorrow, 50, was declared dead on Saturday by emergency medical service personnel. He was a state prison inmate serving time at the North Branch Correctional Institution in Cumberland.

Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine cause and manner of death, a state police news release said.

A suspect, also an inmate, has been identified, but authorities have not released his name. He has not been charged at this time, pending further investigation.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Intelligence and Investigative Division about an inmate death.

The preliminary investigation shows Sorrow was in a cell with another inmate before he was found lying on the floor and unresponsive. Maryland State Police investigators, along with crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division, responded to the scene.

Findings from the investigation will be presented to the Office of the State’s Attorney in Allegany County for review.