CURRITUCK, N.C. (WAVY) — 10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox was able to confirm that a registered nurse anesthetist and practitioner in Currituck County arrested on forcible rape charges has died by suicide.
Paul Pellini, 54, was named in several indictments, one of which includes charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. As of April 3, four patients accused Pellini of engaging in sexual intercourse while either mentally incapacitated or physically helpless. He was being held at Central Prison in Raleigh awaiting trial.
On March 18, Attorney Kevin Biniazan, who represents three of the alleged victims of Pellini, told 10 On Your Side he intended on filing a civil lawsuit against Pellini after a victim was able to identify pictures of herself allegedly taken by Pellini following the incident.
“They are physically helpless and mentally unconscious, so they have no understanding or appreciation of what’s going on around them or who’s in the room with them,” Biniazan said. “And therefore, they are, for this man, a helpless victim that he can perpetrate these crimes against.”
Biniazan said “while he may have been acting alone in sexually assaulting these women, he was not acting without the knowledge and understanding of other persons who were likely aware of his wrongdoing.”
In April, Biniazan told 10 On Your Side that Pellini “was sexually assaulting patients while they were under anesthesia. They were asleep unconscious, helpless…our client was able to identify her body in a photograph that she was one of the Individuals who was a victim of his sexual assault.”
He said “it’s hard to imagine that somebody, anybody, would do something like this.”
Monday, Biniazan told WAVY’s Andy Fox that law enforcement contacted his clients to inform them of Pellini’s death.
Pellini, who was originally being held at the Currituck County Detention Center, listed himself as a founding member of Outer Banks Wellness and Pain Management office. He was also employed at Old Dominion University between June and August 2024, during which one of the offense dates took place.
Officials, however, were able to confirm that on April 2, Pellini was transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina due to safety concerns, where he later died by apparent suicide. Officials said Pellini was found outside of his cell around 3:35 p.m. Saturday unresponsive.
Pellini was pronounced dead at 3:51 p.m. after staff attempted life-saving measures.
10 On Your Side has reached out for more information on the incident.
This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates on air and online.