— from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating an attempted escape from the Vance County Detention Center.
On June 22, 2026, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Vance County Sheriff’s Office was notified that an inmate had attempted to escape and sustained injuries during the attempt. Responding personnel located the inmate in the secure area between the detention center’s two exterior perimeter fences.
The inmate was identified as Mahlon Hebron. Preliminary investigation indicates that Hebron obtained access to a set of detention center keys, exited his housing unit, accessed the roof through a roof hatch, and attempted to jump over the facility’s two exterior security fences. Hebron was unable to clear the facility’s exterior security fences and never left the secured perimeter of the detention center. He landed on a gravel surface within the secure area between the fences, sustaining injuries during the fall.
At no point during the incident did Hebron escape lawful custody. Hebron was transported to Duke University Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the attempted escape.
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how Hebron gained access to the detention center keys. Additional charges are anticipated.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile application.
