PORT ALLEN — A federal detainee has died at the West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center, the fifth inmate death at the facility since March 2025.

Darren Dorman Jr., 46, was found unresponsive inside a cell just after 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, according to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office. A cellmate alerted correctional deputies, who administered first aid while EMS responded.

Dorman was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is pending an autopsy by the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office.

Dorman was being held on federal charges, according to the sheriff's office. The U.S. Marshal's Service confirmed his identity. Sheriff Jeff Bergeron ordered an investigation into the death.

A Pattern at the Facility

Sunday's death is the fifth at the detention center since March 2025. The previous four cases involved suspected drug-related incidents, and synthetic cannabinoids have been a recurring factor.

Following the earlier deaths, Sheriff Bergeron announced security reforms at the facility. WBR Independent reported on those changes and the pattern of fatalities in August 2025.

On March 5, 2025, Ryan Moreau, 38, of Baton Rouge suffered a medical emergency just after midnight and was transported to a hospital, where he died days later in the intensive care unit. A facility-wide shakedown two days later turned up improvised weapons, loose tobacco, and papers soaked in synthetic cannabinoids. Two inmates were charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case.

In May 2025, Unterio Lewis died three days after being arrested at a casino and booked into the facility. His cause of death was determined to be combined drug toxicity — a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl, according to the coroner. His family questioned how he had access to drugs after spending days in custody. An internal affairs investigation found two deputies had failed to follow procedures, resulting in suspensions.

On August 13, 2025, Jeremy Paul, 30, of Baton Rouge was found unresponsive in a dormitory along with two other inmates who recovered. Nicholas Henderson, 26, was later charged with second degree murder for allegedly providing Paul with a synthetic cannabinoid known as "Mojo."

On September 7, 2025, Henderson himself was found unresponsive in a lockdown isolation cell and died. He had been moved to the cell after being charged with second degree battery for attacking another inmate two days earlier. His cause of death was pending autopsy.

The cause of death in Sunday's case has not been determined.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Correction: This article originally identified Dorman's death as the fourth at the facility. It is the fifth. Nicholas Henderson, who was charged with second degree murder in the August 2025 death of Jeremy Paul, also died at the detention center in September 2025. The article has been updated to reflect the corrected count.