Mother of inmate killed from Orange Co. jail fight in 2020 suing sheriff's office

On March 4, 2020, Maurice King was severely beaten when several other prisoners entered his cell and closed the door with various other inmates standing outside the door to keep a look out. Court documents said detention officers walked past King's cell without looking inside while conducting rounds following the assault.

Tiffany King filed the suit for "deliberate indifference to King's safety from assault by other prisoners and to his serious medical needs in violation of the eighth amendment."

King was left unable to walk, according to documents. Guards did not intervene during the assault and King was not found until 90 minutes later. King, who was from Durham, was taken to Duke University Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

The suit alleges that King was housed with the most violent prisoners with little to no supervision and detention officers allowed prisoners to enter each other's cells where they could not be viewed, supervised or protected. Prisoners were given gifts for agreeing to "keep this pod running smooth."

Investigators believe King and several other inmates had a verbal altercation. The matter escalated between King and at least one other inmate.

Fight between inmates leaves 1 dead at Orange County Detention Center

King, 34, was a federal inmate and in the detention center as part of an agreement between Orange County and the US Marshals.

The lawsuit document said King had three children.