A La Porte County inmate died of an accidental overdose of the narcotic fentanyl. That’s according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office whose investigators say the drug was smuggled into the jail and Andrea Roberts, 35, ingested a lethal amount of the drug.
The jail supervisor found Roberts unresponsive in her cell on Saturday, July 15 and attempted to resuscitate her. She was later pronounced dead at the La Porte Hospital.
The La Porte County Coroner’s Office conducted a full forensic autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
La Porte County investigators found that inmates who may have information on how the drug was smuggled into the jail are not cooperating with police so police cannot prove who brought in the narcotics or who may have supplied them to Roberts. However, a separate investigation did lead to charges against inmates that were allegedly smuggling narcotics into the jail.
Sheriff John Boyd said efforts are being made to purchase a full body scanner to use on all subjects booked into the jail. He noted that the funds are available and the purchase request will be brought before the La Porte County Council during their next meeting.
