An inmate at Johnston Correctional Institution on Highway 70 was found dead this morning (Thursday). At 7:46am, prison staff located Edward S. Parker unresponsive in his cell. Staff who responded worked to resuscitate the 46 year-old inmate without success. His 
death is being treated as an apparent suicide.
Parker was convicted of being a habitual felon, including a previous sex offense, in Buncombe County on Jan. 17, 2014 and was serving a 9-year, 9-month prison sentence. His projected release date had been Jan. 3, 2023.
As standard procedure, the NC SBI is investigate the death.
