Inmate Convicted of Prison Murder, Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Baldwin County

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. — A Baldwin County jury has convicted an inmate of murder in a deadly prison stabbing, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Traquan Rashad Bangs, 26, was found guilty May 6 of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items by an inmate, according to prosecutors.

Investigators said Bangs stabbed fellow inmate Vincent Dyer multiple times with a homemade weapon on Aug. 21, 2024, at Baldwin State Prison.

Chief Judge Alison T. Burleson sentenced Bangs to life without parole, plus an additional five years.

The case was prosecuted by T. Wright Barksdale, Assistant District Attorney Savanna Neal and Investigator T.J. Hargrove.

Court records show Bangs was already serving time as a repeat offender. Prior to the prison killing, he had been convicted in Screven County of aggravated assault and sentenced to 15 years. He also received additional sentences in Wilcox County for crossing guard lines with weapons or drugs, including terms of five and 10 years.

Bangs, described as a six-time convicted felon, began his most recent incarceration in September 2022 and had been housed at Augusta State Medical Prison.

Before the murder conviction, Bangs could have been eligible for parole as early as January 2027. That possibility has now been eliminated under the new sentence.