Autopsy reveals female inmate died of drug overdose

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- An inmate who died at the La Porte County Jail died as a result of an accidental drug overdose, according to a release from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office.

On July 15, 2017, 35-year-old Andrea Roberts was found unresponsive in her cell. She was taken to La Porte Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The La Porte County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and her death was caused by an accidental overdose.

She had lethal amounts of fentanyl in her system.

Inmates with knowledge of how drugs were brought into the jail were not cooperative with investigators.

Detectives were unable to prove who smuggled the narcotics into the jail or who provided the drugs to Roberts.

A separate investigation did lead to charges being filed against inmates smuggling narcotics into the jail.

Sheriff Boyd stated jail staff members are unable to search certain areas of the body and that's how inmates often smuggle drugs into the jail.

He said they have the funds to purchase a full body scanner and will be seeking approval for the purchase from the La Porte County Council.