Ex-Teacher and Convicted Rapist Ernest Nichols Murdered in NC Prison

A convicted rapist and former middle school teacher was murdered in his North Carolina prison cell. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 5. Ernest Nichols, 60, was found dead at the Greene Correctional Institution.

Authorities have charged another inmate, Wilbert Baldwin, with the murder. Baldwin is already serving a sentence for second-degree murder. The prison was placed on lockdown following the discovery.

Details of the Prison Homicide Emerge

Officials found Nichols unresponsive around 6:50 a.m. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office quickly identified a suspect. According to the New York Post, inmate Wilbert Baldwin was served with a murder warrant.

Baldwin’s existing sentence is for a previous homicide. The prison homicide is now under investigation. This event highlights ongoing violence within the correctional system.

Background of the Victim’s Crimes

Ernest Nichols was a gym teacher at Ranson Middle School. He worked there for 14 years before his arrest. According to WRAL, he faced 27 charges related to sex offenses.

His conviction in 2011 was for statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. He received a 15-year sentence. Nichols was scheduled for release in September 2027.

The victim was not a student at his school. The abuse occurred over a six-month period in 2008. Arrest warrants stated Nichols impersonated his son on social media to lure the teen.

He sent explicit messages and made inappropriate requests. The encounters took place at his family home. When confronted by the victim’s mother, Nichols called himself a “pig.”

The violent end to Ernest Nichols’ sentence underscores the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the prison environment, even for those convicted of heinous crimes.

Info at your fingertips

Who was Ernest Nichols?

Ernest Nichols was a former middle school gym teacher in Charlotte. He was convicted in 2011 for the repeated rape of a 15-year-old girl. He was serving a 15-year sentence at the time of his death.

Who is accused of killing him?

Inmate Wilbert Baldwin has been charged with the murder. Baldwin was already incarcerated for a second-degree murder conviction. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office served him the warrant.

Where did the murder happen?

The homicide occurred at the Greene Correctional Institution in Maury, North Carolina. Nichols was found in his cell on the morning of October 5. The facility was placed on lockdown after the discovery.

What was Nichols originally convicted for?

He was convicted on multiple counts of statutory rape. The abuse involved a 15-year-old girl over a six-month period. Police seized videotapes and other evidence from his home during the initial investigation.

How long had Nichols been in prison?

Nichols had been behind bars since his 2011 conviction. He was approximately two years from his scheduled release date. His sentence was set to conclude in September 2027.