WRAL News is learning more about how a man in the Vance County Jail attempted to escape Monday.
On Wednesday, the Vance County Sheriff's Office said the inmate, Mahlon Hebron, attempted to escape the Vance County Detention Center after getting access to keys to the jail, accessed the roof through a hatch and tried to jump over the jail's two exterior fences.
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A dispatcher recorded in Broadcastify radio traffic said, “I have a possible jail break, Vance County Jail 516 Breckenridge Street. Caller advised by the name Mahlon Hebron, advising he's stuck on something, possible two broken legs.”
According to deputies, Hebron was unable to make the jump and corrections officers found him between the fences Monday afternoon. Hebron was then taken to Duke University Hospital for his injuries.
Hebron was in jail on charges that he killed his girlfriend, Tiffany Lassiter, in December in Henderson.
Deputies told WRAL News Hebron didn't leave the gounds of the jail at any point during his escape.
Activists say attempted escape highlight security concerns with the jail
Hebron's alleged attempted escape comes weeks after two inmates escaped earlier this month.
Security is one of many problems the facility has faced in recent years.
Tuesday morning, activists and people who have spent time in that jail gathered to protest.
Pastor Donna Hargrove is concerned about the jail’s proximity to a church, especially given recent security issues.
“We're demanding a change. It's just not a safe facility for anything at this point,” Hargrove said. “The gate is broken on this right side; the workers had to literally basically use their hands to push the gate open."
Activist Karen Perry is calling for more humane treatment of inmates.
“I don't take away from whatever has happened and brought them to this point, but I do take away the fact that they should be treated like they are human,” Perry said.
The jail has been plagued by issues going back years, including some that forced the state of North Carolina to get involved.
The Sheriff was ordered to reduce the population to 20 inmates in April of last year; as of December 2025, the jail housed 64 inmates. WRAL has not received a response about how many inmates are currently in the jail.
"Why can't they be housed somewhere else?” Perry questioned. “All of them don't have to go to the same house, but this should be closed. We shouldn't keep another person here another night."
Domestic Violence Awareness activist Corliss Williams described the conditions in the jail as “uninhabitable,” based on her conversations with inmates.
"You should not live in a facility where your doors does not lock, you have holes in the wall. feces running over, you're not getting proper medical attention, you're not able to bathe,” Williams said. "There's not enough staff to ensure that things are operating correctly."
Two former inmates who didn’t want to show their faces spoke with WRAL, describing issues with cleanliness and a lack of supplies.
"If you know anything about bed bugs, they can be a hard thing to get rid of. They've got a lot of roaches and ants too,” one man said. "You can see the sediment in the water, and the pressure's not high enough."
“It's basically every man for themselves. They have people sleeping on the floor in there, too,” said another man. "They're painting over mold in hazmat suits. There will be four people in a one-man cell, and they just keep piling people in there."
The former inmates also described issues with security and a lack of working alarm buttons in cells, sharing stories of kicking the doors to get the attention of guards.
"There is no security. The security is the door that you're behind, and you better hope that there ain't nobody in there that don't like you,” said one man.
Vance County is building a new jail, but activists say it’s not happening fast enough.
"I would like to see immediate action,” Williams said. “Building a new facility to house future inmates and everything is great. But we need some resolve right now."