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Macon State Prison Inmate Dies, Coroner Confirms
Eric Antwan Roberts, 34, was serving a 20-year sentence for aggravated assault and battery charges.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
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A Macon State Prison inmate named Eric Antwan Roberts, who was around 34 years old, was pronounced dead on Monday around 5:30 p.m., according to Coroner Eddie Hosley. Roberts was serving a 20-year sentence with a maximum release date of December 8, 2030 for charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery committed in Chatham County in 2010. Hosley said Roberts was being transported to a GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy, which is standard procedure for any in-custody death.
Why it matters
This is at least the second reported death at Macon State Prison in recent years, following the 2025 stabbing death of inmate Marquis Young during a prison fight. Inmate deaths in custody raise concerns about prison safety and conditions, as well as the broader criminal justice system.
The details
Eric Antwan Roberts, who was around 34 years old, was serving a 20-year sentence at Macon State Prison. He was arrested sometime in 2010 on two charges of aggravated assault and a charge of aggravated battery committed in Chatham County. Coroner Eddie Hosley confirmed that Roberts was pronounced dead around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, and said Roberts was being transported to a GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy, which is standard procedure for any in-custody death.
- Roberts was pronounced dead around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2026.
- Roberts was arrested sometime in 2010 on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
- Roberts was serving a 20-year sentence with a maximum release date of December 8, 2030.
The players
Eric Antwan Roberts
A 34-year-old inmate at Macon State Prison who was serving a 20-year sentence for aggravated assault and aggravated battery charges.
Eddie Hosley
The coroner who confirmed the death of Eric Antwan Roberts at Macon State Prison.
Marquis Young
A 37-year-old inmate at Macon State Prison who was killed in a stabbing during a fight at the prison in October 2025.
What’s next
The GBI Crime Lab will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of Eric Antwan Roberts' death.
The takeaway
This incident raises ongoing concerns about safety and conditions within the Georgia prison system, particularly following the 2025 stabbing death of another Macon State Prison inmate. Transparency and thorough investigations into in-custody deaths are crucial to addressing systemic issues and restoring public trust.
