Haywood County -- June 24, 2026: State regulators have found no policy deficiencies following an investigation into the October 2025 death of an inmate at the Haywood County Detention Center, according to public state records.
Carl George Friberg, 40, of Waynesville, was found unresponsive in his cell by a detention officer on October 10, 2025. He was transported to Haywood Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead the same day.
According to the official autopsy report, jail personnel noted that Friberg had a known dental infection and was reportedly receiving treatment from a dentist during his custody.
Following standard protocol for in-custody fatalities, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) launched an investigation to ensure local detention officers adhered to state operating policies. DHHS records confirm that the state review concluded with no operational deficiencies issued against the jail staff.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which routinely conducts independent reviews of jail deaths, has not yet released the final findings of its separate inquiry.
A Five-Year Pattern under Scrutiny
While state regulators found no operational violations in this specific case, the tragedy highlights a sobering trend at the local facility.
According to DHHS records tracking jail compliance, Friberg’s death was the fifth in-custody fatality at the Haywood County jail over a five-year period, marking a consistent average of one death per calendar year from 2021 through 2025. Local records indicate there have been no inmate deaths reported at the facility so far in 2026.
Friberg had been booked into the facility six days prior to his death, on October 4, 2025, under a $50,000 bond. According to a contemporary news release from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, he faced three misdemeanor charges and one count of felony breaking and entering with theft.
Questions directed to the Haywood County Sheriff's Office regarding the exact timeline of Friberg's dental care and medical evaluations while inside the facility have not received an immediate response.