Fayette jail inmate dies while in custody

An inmate in the Fayette County Jail was found unresponsive in the facility’s infirmary on Oct. 13 and was transported to Piedmont Fayette Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Sheriff Barry Babb said Rodney Joyner, 55, of Fayetteville, was found unresponsive at approximately 10:07 a.m. on Oct. 13 while being housed in the infirmary at the Fayette County Jail.

Infirmary staff performed CPR and Fayette EMS was contacted, Babb said. He was transported to Piedmont Fayette Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 11:04 a.m., Babb said.

Babb said Joyner had been found guilty and was sentenced to 10 years, to serve two years on Sept. 30, 2014 in Fayette County Superior Court for the sale of methamphetamine and the sale of marijuana.

Babb said Joyner turned himself in on Oct. 11 and was awaiting transfer to a state correctional facility.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will be conducting an in custody death investigation as is the normal procedure for the sheriff’s office. Autopsy results are pending, Babb said.