Authorities with the Ridgway Borough Police Department say an Elk County woman is facing charges, accused of providing the drugs to an inmate, at the Elk County Jail, who fatally overdosed earlier this year.
Police say on January 15th, authorities responded to the jail for a report of an unresponsive female inmate.
Authorities say the woman, identified as 31-year-old Stevie Mann, was found in her cell and was later pronounced dead by the Elk County Coroner’s Office.
Upon further investigation, police learned that Mann had been sharing a cell with 28-year-old Brianna Hallowell, who had been incarcerated the day before Mann’s death.
According to the affidavit, Hallowell had been arrested on various drug-related charges following a traffic stop in St. Marys.
Police noted that drug paraphernalia was found inside the cell that was similar to what was seized during the traffic stop.
Authorities say a witness, who was inside the vehicle during the traffic stop, also came forward to report that Hallowell had allegedly “shoved” some of the drugs into her clothing, prior to being arrested.
Investigators say an autopsy confirmed that Mann died of “multi-drug toxicity,” which included fentanyl and xylazine.
According to online court records, Hallowell was arraigned Thursday on charges of drug delivery resulting in death and other related charges.
She is being held at the Elk County Jail on $500,000 bail.