A Stockton woman died in a San Mateo County jail and her apparent drug-related death is being investigated as a possible homicide, authorities said.
Markeisha Monique Renee Blount, 31, was found dead while incarcerated in the Maple Street Correctional Center in Redwood City on Sept. 29, though details of the death were not released by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office until this week. The sheriff’s office did not release what charges led to Blount being jailed.
She was found to be experiencing a medical emergency at 6 a.m. of the day of her death, prompting jail personnel to try aid her. Among other measures, she was administered Narcan, the medication used to deal with opioid overdoses, a sheriff’s official said. It was apparently too late: Blount was pronounced dead at the jail by responding paramedics.
The sheriff’s office launched an investigation into whether narcotics, likely containing deadly fentanyl, had been provided to Blount. Another inmate, Ashley “Ashly” J. Gromnicki, 34, was identified as a suspect. Gromnicki was in custody for charges related to narcotics and theft.
The case was turned over to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office for prosecution as a possible homicide, the sheriff’s office said.
The county’s Coroner’s Office said Thursday that the exact cause of Blount’s death is yet to be determined.
Sheriff Christina Corpus expressed condolences to Blount’s family and indicated her staff is doing what it can to keep drugs out of county’s jails. Just last week, sheriff’s deputies intercepted narcotics before they could come into the correctional facility.
“We will not tolerate people bringing drugs into our facility and putting the safety of our employees, visitors and those in our custody at risk,” Corpus said in a statement.