Mario McNeill sits in a safekeeping cell in Raleigh's Central Prison on suicide watch, and there is a good reason. Suicide watch on high-profile cases surrounding murder charges, or any other serious crime, is a cautious measure that must be applied.
In August of 2007 Raleigh's Central Prison inmate, Eric Queen, 28, died by an apparent suicide. Queen was found hanging inside of a janitor's closet and pronounced dead 17 minutes later on August 6. He was serving time on death row. Queen was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and other charges from 1998. Ironic enough, Queen was charged in Cumberland County, the same county that Mario McNeill was charged in.
In January of 2006 Raleigh's Central Prison inmate, Drew Planten, died of an apparent suicide. Planten was found unresponsive at the time of 2 p.m., and could not be revived. He was pronounced dead 37 minutes later. Planten arrived at Raleigh's Central Prison just four months before his death. Planten was charged with murder.
On November 30, 2000 Raleigh's Central Prison inmate, Keith Moore, 40, died of an apparent suicide. Moore was found hanging in a C Block cell. He was found and pronounced dead 12 minutes later. Moore was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and other charges. He was charged for the murders of his wife, girlfriend, and the shooting of his toddler son. He entered just months before his death.
Three days before Moore died Raleigh's Central Prison inmate, Curtis Lee Woodall, 31, died of an apparent suicide. Curtis was kept in a safekeeping location in the hospital wing on suicide watch and had just arrived to Raleigh's Central Prison the Friday night prior to his death. Curtis was surviving a gunshot wound in Raleigh's Central Prison hospital. The prison staff last seen him at 3:00, found him at 3:30, pronounced him dead at 3:45 after he was found hung in the hospital bathroom. However, a note was found. No information surrounding his prior charges were released.
So, if Mario McNeill does not commit suicide, should he be worried about other inmates murdering him?
Since Raleigh's Central Prison has had it's share of suicides behind bars Mario McNeill's suicide watch is understandable. But aside from suicide let's not forget that of Jeffrey Dahmer once he stepped into a prison.
Two stories came to light. First story, Christopher Scarver was cleaning the bathroom with fellow inmates Dahmer and Jesse Anderson. That was until Scarver beat both of them to death with the broom. Second story, Christopher Scarver was in the gym when he beat Dahmer with a weight bar. Two stories, one result, death.
Dahmer was serving 15 life sentences for 17 murders, lowered to 15 murders. Dahmer was murdered behind bars in Columbia Correctional, not Raleigh's Central Prison.
Raleigh's Central Prison has no releases of inside murders in the past ten years according to news reports released by the media. My research has resulted in the same conclusion. Therefore, the only deaths that tend to occur would be the death chamber or suicide.
Mental evaluations can last approximately 30 days for those who enter on murder charges and within that process suicide watch may continue depending upon the inmate and situation of their mental state.
As for Mario McNeill's suicide watch and safekeeping cell, Raleigh's Central Prison is simply doing what it can to assure that Mario McNeill faces the full extent of his actions according to state law.
There is no fascination, nor should there be, over Mario McNeill's entry into Raleigh's Central Prison. However, keeping up with the facts on the basis surrounding the case in the murder of Shaniya Davis is important.
Mario McNeill's next court date is scheduled for December 9, 2009 at the Cumberland County Courthouse.
For a Mario McNeill photo (requested by comment) visit CBSNews.com.
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Source(s):
http://www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/2007/Releases/Death%20Row%20inmate%20found%20dead%20in%20apparent%20suicide.htm
www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/2006/releases/planten_death.htm
www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/2000/00releases/mooresuicide.htm
www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/2000/00releases/woodallsuicide.htm
Comments
How does anyone do these kind of things to a child??? He deserves everything that is coming to him!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly what he did to that little girl should be done to him...rape him and smother him.
Suicide and a state-ordered death are way to leniant. Hoping the inmates sees him for the child-raping monster that he is and rips him a new one before beating him to death.
Hello SS. This is one of Mario Mcneill's family members and I feel very disrespected for such a rude comment. He is just as any other man and deserves his life as much as anyone else. As far as I know, you are not the victim in this case. My heart goes out to Shaniya Davis but for anyone to talk about him in such a manner deserves a good talking to. I don't care how old you are, you aren't to disrespect anyone in such manner. Now what if this was your family member? You wouldn't want me to run around flaunting my opinions. It creates rage in me to have to read the dispicable words of this whoever you are calling my family a "sick monster"! And just because you have an opinion, doesnt give you the right to run around throwing them out. You have no idea who's connected to who. And in this case, I'M connected!
Why are there no pictures of our little friend, Mario?
Could it be to do that would run against the agenda of the media's obsessive protection of that special group of evil people who commit the majority of vicious crime?
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this is very disturbing
EMILY29--I AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE. HE DESERVES WHATS COMING TO HIM AND SO DOES MOMMY. THIS WOMAN NEEDS TO BE KICKED IN THE AZZ AND THEN FACE MURDER CHARGES. SHE MAKES ME SICK TO THE POINT THAT I CAN'T STAND LOOKING AT HER.
There is honor in the prison inmates and they do not like anyone who hurts a child, I believe they will give him and mommy a warm welcome and I hope they do.
The guards allowed the other inmates to dig a hole in the cell and come in and out at their will to sexually assault Damien Echolls, one the West Helena 3. The guards were fired eventually and the state was sued. I know this is wrong but I sure hope this happens to this guy.
I hate what happened to this child, it haunts me because I have a daughter and could not imagine my state of mind if this were to happen to her. I believe they should be given a severe punishment as examples in our legal system of what happens when you hurt children. I also believe we have to keep in mind that people who commit these types of crimes are often repeating criminal behaviors learned by influence & environment. Lets not forget that of age criminals used to be children. To me this is a systemic social problem that needs to addressed by our communities, places of worship, the media & government more seriously or we will always have continual reports on another child's death. I would rather see the news report and support ways to protect our children than make juicy news of what someone has done to a child and not care to discuss prevention of crimes like this. Rest in peace Shaniya. I believe you are in a better place now.
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