Saturday, November 1, 2025–5:00 p.m.
-WZQZ Radio-
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has launched an investigation into the death of an inmate at Hays State Prison last weekend, with Chattooga County officials confirming Friday that foul play is suspected, possibly involving the victim’s cellmate.
On Friday, October 31, 2025, the Chattooga County Coroner’s office confirmed that the GDC is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident that transpired on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The deceased inmate has been identified as 48-year-old James Cannon.
According to a release from Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy McElhaney, he was called to Atrium Floyd Chattooga ER at 4:54 p.m. last Saturday for a death investigation involving an inmate transported from Hays State Prison. The investigation revealed that Mr. Cannon was found unresponsive and not breathing inside his assigned cell at the correctional facility. Prison staff immediately initiated CPR and contacted Atrium Floyd EMS.
Cannon was treated at the scene before being transported to Atrium Floyd Chattooga ER, where he was formally pronounced deceased by the emergency room physician. Following the confirmed death, Special Agents from the Georgia Department of Corrections responded immediately to both the emergency room and the prison facility to begin their official probe into the incident.
Coroner McElhaney stated that based on the initial findings, there is a strong possibility of criminal activity. “At this time it appears that there is a possibility of foul play involving the decedent’s cell mate,” McElhaney said in a statement. Due to the suspicious nature of the death, Coroner McElhaney requested that the decedent be transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Medical Examiner’s office for a comprehensive autopsy and further examination to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
The GDC has not released further details on the scope of the investigation.