The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reports that 8 female inmates were transported to the hospital Thursday afternoon for emergency medical treatment after allegedly snorting what is believed to be a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. According to a press release, investigators confiscated the same mixture from inmate Nicole Danielle Ealey. Authorities say Ealey and Jasmine Richelle Lancaster smuggled the drugs into the Putnam County Jail by concealing them in their body cavities. They reportedly gave the drugs to other inmates in their pod area causing the overdoses and near deaths to some of the inmates. Ealey and Lancaster have both been charged with 5 counts of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Introduction of a contraband inside of a penal facility, and Simple Possession/Casual Exchange for their role in Thursday’s event.
Krystal Gail Auxier, Racheal Lee Blackard, Sarah Elisabeth Miller, Jamie Sue Bullard, Chantel Renee Keagle, Sarah Nichole King, Angie Lanette Taylor, and Brittany Lynn Bryant now face new charges of Simple Possession/Casual Exchange.
Sheriff Farris stated,” I am glad that none of the corrections officers or inmates have died due to the use or exposure of the deadly drug fentanyl. There were over 100,000 overdose deaths across the nation last year. And 90% of our inmates in Putnam County are incarcerated for illegal drug activity whether it be through direct or indirect activity.”