The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating another in-custody death at the county’s detention facilities – the latest in what appears to be a growing number of jail deaths over the last year.
The Sherrif’s Office announced on Monday, February, 23 that Scott Alan Fanter, died in the early morning hours after experiencing what authorities described as a medical condition while in custody at the Guilford County Detention Center in High Point.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Fanter was transported to High Point Regional Hospital at approximately 12:45 a.m. He had a pulse during transport but was pronounced dead at approximately 2 a.m.
Fanter had been held under no bond since his January 28 arrest.
Court records show that he was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony attempted first-degree murder and misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun.
He was scheduled to appear in court March 27.
The Sheriff’s Office said Fanter’s next of kin has been notified.
As is standard procedure in these cases, the death is under internal review by the Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Division and the Major Crimes Investigative Unit.
The agency stated that North Carolina law limits the amount of information that can be released while the investigation is ongoing.
One reliable law enforcement source said it was his understanding that the death was “due to seizure,” but added, “That can mean anything.”
The Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately release any additional details regarding the nature of the reported medical condition, whether the inmate had prior documented health issues or whether any resuscitative efforts were performed at the jail.
Recent years have seen multiple jail deaths in the county’s detention facilities, and Fanter’s death comes amid heightened scrutiny of in-custody deaths in Guilford County.
During 2025 and into early 2026, several detainees have died while being held at county facilities. In previous cases, deaths have been attributed to medical emergencies, overdoses and other causes pending medical examiner findings. As with Monday’s incident, those cases typically triggered internal investigations and, in some instances, outside reviews.
Nationally, detention facilities have faced increased attention regarding inmate medical care, suicide prevention protocols and staffing levels. Guilford County hasn’t been immune to those broader concerns, particularly as jail populations fluctuate and more detainees enter custody with complex medical or mental health needs. As former Sheriff BJ Barnes used to point out frequently, many inmates are not in good health when they arrive: they are often undernourished, have not had good health care, or they may be serious alcoholics or narcotics users.
Whether the recent deaths represent a statistical spike or normal variation over time remains unclear. The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t publicly indicated that current numbers are outside historical norms.
North Carolina law significantly restricts what information local law enforcement agencies may release concerning personnel matters and certain aspects of detention operations. As a result, detailed findings from internal reviews often aren’t made public.
In most cases, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ultimately determines the official cause of death following an autopsy.
Until that determination is released, key questions remain unanswered in the Fanter case – including what medical condition he experienced, whether it developed suddenly and what steps were taken in response inside the facility before transport.
That investigation is ongoing.
Remember this in November when Danny Rogers runs for Guilford County sheriff.
Phil Berger is running a political ad about ONE death in Rockingham County jail, Sheriff Sam Page’s county, insinuating that that one death makes him unqualified for the NC Senate. Are the Republicans planning to run an ad come November for the same reason against Danny Rogers?
Vote for SAM PAGE in Republican primary. There are a few days left to vote.
This is just terrible
I assume a lot of people held in jails have drug issues that make the early part of their stay hell as the come off the drugs. Not all can survive it… Wonder how they deal with all the forced detox on a daily basis? Must be awful for all involved.
especially the guards ?
there ordering hits i tell you…
The real question here is whether proper and timely checks were made. I’m afraid this administration has had large vacancies in the jail in detention personnel which has resulted in over worked staff which can result in mistakes. It has also contributed to millions in overtime pay. It is also my understanding they ave also lowered the bar on what hiring they have done which is also a problem.
What is a timely proper check? Could one not have an issue, ie heart attack when being checked? I also understand that staffing has been a problem, mainly due to pay. County commissioners need to up the pay to attract. Election time fingers are pointed without proper investigation. Look at all the Phil Berger adds against Sam Page. What fraudulent ads that fail to tell,”the rest of the story.”
Berger is afraid of losing with so many negative ads? Would I be wrong to suggest the ads appear to be aimed at white rednecks? Yes, I like so many are tired of the negative ads.
Fred could you please give us your definition of a “Redneck”
You might be a redneck if you watch Phil Berger ads.
u might b a redneck if u ever wore a noose ? used a noose ?
1) Defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a white member of the Southern rural laboring class
2) Arguably, that’s even more true today, when identifying as blue collar, country, or, yes, redneck is
worn as a badge of honor by many. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
3) Rednecks have historically a proud group of working-class people, and even proclaim themselves as a redneck. For the purposes of this page, the term rednecks will be used to describe a group of historically white, working-class people with a strong sense of nationalism. Additionally, they have often had right-wing, racist ideals and have lived in the rural south.
4) From AI: Core Definitions and Components
Origin: Originally a late-19th-century term for poor, white, rural farmers in the Mississippi Valley
whose necks were sunburned from working in fields.
Modern Stereotype: Frequently associated with lower-income, rural, and under-educated
individuals, often perceived as having narrow-minded or conservative views.
Cultural Identity: For many, it is a badge of pride indicating a rural, working-class, “common sense”
lifestyle that is authentic, outdoors-oriented, and resistant to “politically correct”
or “sophisticated” trends
Curious- what do you think I meant?
Fred I wasn’t sure what you meant that was why I asked. I appreciate the through dictionary and AI meaning but my question was what is Your definition. As to why I asked I’m just curious about what makes people think what they think.
Scott was my brother. I loved him and I always will. He wanted to live his life normally. He took his meds and he kept his appointments. From a physical standpoint, he has always been healthy, with no known cardiac issues or history of seizures. From a mental standpoint, he was a train wreck. He was struggling with paranoid schizophrenia. The person he shot was his friend (at least when Scott was in his right mind). His roommates could do no wrong his eyes and talked about them as if they were family. I will always be grateful to the friendship they afforded my brother, especially because it almost cost them their lives. Mental Illness is a medical condition, and until it is recognized as such, there will be this problem of using the jails and prisons to house the mentally ill. Scott had no recollection of the shooting incident. He heard voices and saw people (and things) that weren’t there. Scott’s reality was very different than mine or yours. The 911 calls are numerous (we lost count)
We were 16 years apart. He graduated NW high school. He was a good student. He had some college and he certainly had a higher than average IQ. He worked. He paid rent. He bought groceries. He had a girlfriend. He drove a car. He exercised. He loved animals. He had a couple of good friends. He hated seeing people in pain. He served 6 years in the military. He received several medals, including the Good Conduct Medal. I think schizophrenia reared its ugly head shortly after he separated from the Army. My mother and I tried to get him help. Why they couldn’t let us commit him will always perplex me. It didn’t have to come to the point of him shooting his roommate or dying in a prison cell.
That is a sad and not uncommon story, Debbie. We under-fund mental health and give it all back with unnecessary loss of life, violence on the public, legal fees and prison expenses. May your family find peace.
Well folks if you want a new sheriff you need to vote for Billy Queen. You can waste another vote on Byrd like last time and watch another crushing defeat. So many have said they are voting Queen this time as the Byrd candidate has only proven one thing, that he can lose an election by twice as much as Barnes did. You can vote for Queen and have a chance or vote for Byrd, a proven election loser. Make your vote count this time and vote for Queen or don’t complain when things turn out exactly as they did last election. Queen has an actual real resume and not just a collection of name tags from desks one sat behind their whole career. Queen leads from the front as having actually been the boots on the ground. He has the real resume that the other candidate wishes he had. You only have one vote and one chance. Vote wisely this time, vote Queen.
H Woods you are exactly right. William “Billy” Queen (US ARMY Veteran) has the resume, experience and cares for people. Many people don’t know he has his Commercial Pilots license and his own plane and that he flew 15 missions on his own expense to Western NC with Food, Supplies and Christmas presents. If he did that for total strangers, I wonder what he will do for his County. Billy Queen has a Criminal Justice degree from Guilford College and studied in the Master’s program at NCA & T. Bird got a four year certificate in an 18 month program at a local College that isn’t even in business now. Vote this week up to Saturday and next Tuesday March 3rd, for the most experienced, educated candidate WILLIAM “BILLY” QUEEN.