CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A final investigative report reveals that staff and medical professionals at the Charleston County Jail were not certified and did not properly render emergency aid to an inmate who later died.
Donald Lee Robinson, 58, from Mullins, died on April 7, 2025, at Centre Pointe Emergency after he was transported from the Charleston County Jail. An autopsy determined his cause of death was ischemic heart disease and ruled the death to be of natural causes.
Information behind Robinson’s death is documented in the closing investigation report from the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was requested to investigate the death by Sheriff Carl Ritchie.
SLED’s report said the first deputy to respond after inmates reported Robinson had passed out was not first-aid or CPR certified at the time.
Multiple inmates were interviewed after Robinson’s death and detailed that he was having chest pains as early as Friday, April 4. Robinson put in a sick call to medical on Sunday or Monday, but the report does not state that he was seen by medical professionals before his death.
Inmates also detailed that on April 7, Robinson “fell out,” but a jail employee advised the inmates to “sit down” and not to help Robinson.
SLED’s report states that jail and medical staff failed to do chest compressions until EMS arrived and the jail did not have an automated external defibrillator hooked up either.
Despite the lack of medical training and response to Robinson’s urgent condition, SLED closed the case because of the findings of the investigation and the manner of death was determined to be natural.
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement:
“Medical staff was immediately notified of the medical emergency and reached Mr. Robinson within two minutes of his collapse. Robinson was breathing when deputies first made contact, thus there was no need for CPR or AED. He responded to a sternum rub, and it was only afterward that he became unresponsive and required CPR. Charleston County EMS transported him to Center Pointe Emergency, where he was later pronounced deceased. His death was ruled natural, caused by ischemic heart disease. The directive for inmates to sit down was given to maintain order in a 64‑person open‑bay unit and was appropriate. We acknowledge the seriousness of any loss of life, and our review indicates that our deputies acted within established policies and procedures.
SLED: Emergency response failures preceded Charleston County inmate’s death
