Greene County, North Carolina — Ernest Nichols was found dead Sunday morning at Greene Correctional Institution, authorities confirmed, after serving time for repeatedly raping a teenage girl. The former middle school teacher’s death came at the hands of a fellow inmate, 41-year-old Wilbert Baldwin, who has now been charged with murder.

Nichols, 60, had been incarcerated for crimes that occurred in Mecklenburg County, where he repeatedly assaulted a teenage girl over a six-month period starting in the fall of 2008. At the time of the crimes, Nichols told the victim to claim she had consented if questioned.

The sexual assaults occurred at Nichols’ home in Huntersville, North Carolina. Police have emphasized that the victim was not a student at the school where Nichols taught. During his tenure, Nichols worked as a physical education teacher at Ransom Middle School in north Charlotte for 14 years.

Nichols was married with two children at the time of his arrest. He was convicted in 2011 of statutory rape and sentenced to serve prison time, with a projected release date in September 2027. His crimes had already deeply shocked the local community, given his role as a trusted educator.

Baldwin, the inmate accused of killing Nichols, is already serving a 20-year sentence for a second-degree murder committed in Richmond County in 2007. Following the prison homicide, Baldwin was charged with murder, given no bond, and transferred to Maury Correctional Institution.

The Department of Adult Correction reported that Nichols’ body was discovered on the floor beside his bunk in a dormitory. Prison officials are reviewing security footage and conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal altercation between the two inmates.

Prison authorities have described the incident as a violent confrontation that resulted in the death of Nichols. Details about the exact method of the attack have not been released, though Baldwin is now facing full criminal accountability under North Carolina law.

The case has reignited conversations about safety within the state correctional system, especially regarding high-profile or notorious inmates who may be vulnerable to attacks from fellow prisoners. Officials emphasized that measures are being reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Community reaction has been intense, with some expressing shock at Nichols’ violent death in prison while others note that his crimes were particularly heinous. Advocacy groups stress the importance of both justice and prison safety in handling convicted sexual offenders.

As the investigation continues, prosecutors and correctional officials are coordinating to ensure Baldwin faces appropriate legal consequences. Meanwhile, Nichols’ case remains a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact of sexual abuse and the complex dynamics within the prison system.