Middle school teacher in jail for heinous sexual
Former Teacher Found Dead in Prison
Ernest Nichols, 60, a former Charlotte middle school teacher convicted in 2011 for crimes involving a minor,
was found dead in his cell at Greene Correctional Institution in Maury, North Carolina, on October 5.
He was serving a 15-year sentence and was due for release in 2027.
Discovery and Response
Prison staff found Nichols unresponsive around 6:50 a.m. and attempted life-saving measures.
He was pronounced dead at 7:22 a.m., prompting a facility lockdown.
Murder Investigation
Authorities later charged inmate Wilbert Baldwin, 41—already imprisoned for a 2010 second-degree murder—with Nichols’ killing.
The State Bureau of Investigation continues to lead the case.
Background and Support
Nichols was suspended in 2009 from Ranson Middle School after allegations of misconduct with a teenage girl.
For support related to sexual abuse, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or online.rainn.org.
