Police: Auto Zone stabbing suspect believed involved in death of Muscogee County inmate

A Muscogee County Jail inmate was found dead in his cell early Saturday morning and a 19-year-old fellow inmate is suspected in the death.

Eddie Nelson, 39, was found dead around 2:30 a.m., according to Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Joe McCrea. Nelson had been facing charges of a probation violation and failing to register as sex offender.

Jayvon Hatchett, an inmate in the jail on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, is a suspect in Nelson’s death, police said.

Hatchett was arrested on Aug. 26 after an incident a day prior in which he was accused of entering a Columbus Auto Zone and attempting to attack an employee with a knife.

Nelson’s death remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit.