A woman has been charged with murder after an investigation concluded that she carried illegal drugs into a Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) facility earlier this year.
Those drugs killed her boyfriend in an overdose, authorities say.
“This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow,” Director of TDOC’s Office of Investigations and Conduct David Imhof said in a statement. “Our agency will pursue prosecution against any individual who threatens the safety and security of our staff, the men and women in our custody, and our facilities.”
Rachal Dollard was arrested this week on an indictment from Hickman County.
“In February, Dollard was observed passing drugs to inmate Joshua Brown as the two exchanged a kiss during visitation at the Turney Center Industrial Complex,” according to the release. “Brown swallowed a balloon pellet containing half an ounce of methamphetamine. He died later at a local hospital.”
Dollard is currently being held in the Hickman County Jail and facing a second-degree murder charge, along with a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal facility.
TDOC has faced struggles this year.
Several inmates have escaped from TDOC facilities this year alone, prompting investigations. No results from those investigations have been released to the public.
Last month, two guards were indicted for allegedly assaulting an inmate and then covering it up.
“The Department of Justice announced that Javian Griffin, 36, and Sebron Hollands, 32, two former tactical officers with the Strike Force for the Tennessee Department of Corrections, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee,” as reported by The Tennessee Star. “Griffin is charged with using unlawful force against an inmate at Northwest Correctional Complex. Griffin and Hollands are both charged with obstruction of justice for writing false reports about Griffin’s assault.”
In February, three men escaped through an HVAC air vent at the Sullivan County Jail.
Two of those inmates were found dead days later in Wilmington, North Carolina. The circumstances of their deaths remain unknown.
The third inmate was arrested in North Carolina shortly thereafter.
TDOC prison guard Michael Vernon White, who was employed at the DeBerry Special Needs Facility, was earlier this year charged with possessing child pornography.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
