Durham prosecutors revealed that accused murderer Darrius Tyson admitted to being the highest-ranking Blood gang member in North Carolina and used his influence to get sex and drugs inside the Durham County jail.
Durham prosecutors revealed in court Tuesday that accused murderer Darrius Tyson admitted to being the highest-ranking Blood gang member in North Carolina.
They claim Tyson used his influence to get sex and drugs inside the Durham County jail, and even coordinate drug deals outside of it with an illegal cell phone.
A then-Durham County detention sergeant, Jade Robertson, and a contracted nurse, Lerin Burnette, who were working in the jail, were charged for having sexual relations with an inmate, which is a felony. Assistant District Attorney Mary Jude Darrow says Tyson impregnated the the two women.
Another now former Durham County detention sergeant, Nicole Locke, was also charged with a felony, for allegedly providing a cell phone to Tyson.
WRAL Investigates was the only news outlet in court Tuesday, when Tyson sought to have his $1.25 million bond reduced. A judge declined his request.
His attorney, Daniel Meier, argues his client is a victim.
"He was sexually assaulted by two employees who have now been charged with felonies," he told the judge Tuesday. "It's a Class E felony for someone to have sexual relations with a detainee. A detainee by law cannot consent. He is a victim in those cases."
Assistant District Attorney Darrow told the court that Tyson admitted in an interview with law enforcement that he is the highest-ranking Blood gang member in the state. She claims he was still active in criminal activity while in custody.
The state Department of Corrections website lists Tyson's nickname as "KING BLOOD."
"My understanding in speaking with one of the rank over at the jail, there were, on the phone, they were able to verify him setting up drug transactions and money drops," she explained. "He was also found to have other contraband including ... a vape pen ...[and] he had marijuana delivered to him in the jail."
After the allegations of sex with jail workers, Tyson was moved from the Durham County Detention Center to Central Prison in Raleigh, where he remains in custody.
Tyson is currently incarcerated for his charges
related to the 2022 disappearance of Shawn Burton.
Tyson faces charges for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and burglary in the case. Burton was last seen in 2022 and his body still has not been found.
Tyson previously served more than 10 years for a 2010 murder in Durham, but his conviction was overturned in 2020.
In court, his attorney explained it was "overturned on a [Motion for Appropriate Relief] due to prosecutorial misconduct and not turning over exculpatory evidence."
'Durham County, they have it out for him': Accused murderer's mother says
Darrius Tyson's mother, Murryette Tyson, spoke exclusively with WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger. She claims officials in Durham County are "out for him" and questions how he can be charged with murder when police have not even found a body.
"Durham County, they have it out for him," she said. "And I can say that with all my heart."
Tyson says her son is a musician.
"He's an artist. A rapper," she said. "Done shows, made videos ... Great heart. Yeah, he's a good kid. He loves his family ... He's a nice guy, nice looking, very charming."
In court Tuesday, Tyson's attorney argued that the alleged murder victim, Shawn Burton, was Tyson's promoter. He claimed his client would have no reason to want to kill him.
Murryette Tyson did not want to comment on prosecutors' allegations that her son is in a gang, nor did she want to comment on the allegations that he had sex with jail workers.
Murryette Tyson said her son wanted to do an interview with WRAL Investigates. Reporter Sarah Krueger requested an interview, through the media contact at Central Prison, who told her that because Tyson is a "safekeeper" he is not allowed to do an interview, per policy.
"What do you think he wants to tell me?" Krueger asked.
"Everything. Everything," Murryette Tyson responded. "Don't believe everything that you hear."
"He's innocent," she continued. "Of all the charges."
Murryette Tyson claims that her son was physically assaulted in August by detention officers at the Durham jail. She said that caused significant injuries to his jaw.
WRAL Investigates asked the Durham County Sheriff's Office about that claim.
In a statement, a spokesperson wrote: “Our staff is trained to follow all laws, rules and regulations. If an assault occurs, an inmate should file a complaint so it can be investigated. We have no comment regarding his mother’s allegations and concerns as no assault has been reported nor were any details provided that we can investigate.”
Darrius Tyson's trial in the 2022 murder charge is set for February 2025, although his attorney expects it will be delayed.
WRAL Investigates found, through nursing board records, that Burnette, the nurse accused of having sex with Tyson, had been reprimanded by the nursing board in Georgia.
Documents show she falsified the number of hours she worked, and seemingly showed no remorse.
"When asked, Licensee said although she had taken remedial education courses and understood that her past actions were fraudulent, she would do it again if faced with a similar situation," a document reads.
According to records, Burnette did not tell the North Carolina Board of Nursing about her history in Georgia.
Still, even when the board found out, it issued her a probationary license earlier this year.
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