Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis reported that deputies were conducting rounds inside the Henry County Adult Detention Center around 5:10 a.m. on Oct. 2, when they discovered a woman who appeared to be suffering a medical emergency. The deputies immediately took action and began life-saving measures, including the administration of Naloxone. The inmate was stabilized and transported to SOVAH Health Martinsville.
A short time later, a second female inmate in the same pod also was found to be suffering a medical emergency, and deputies again took action, including the administration of Naloxone and CPR. The second inmate was also transported to SOVAH Health Martinsville, Davis said.
Investigators interviewed both women at the hospital and obtained information as to how the narcotics came into their possession. Multiple witnesses reported that another female inmate who had been in the center for seven days had been placed into the female dorm the day before, Davis said.
According to witnesses, early the next morning, that inmate allegedly retrieved a small quantity of an unknown substance from inside a body cavity and distributed it to the two inmates, who consumed it orally and then experienced an overdose, Davis added.
He said his office worked with the Henry County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to determine the applicable criminal charges. As a result, the following were charged with felonies by prisoners, procure, sell, secrete or have in their possession any chemical compound which they have not lawfully received:
- Kathy Smith Hacker, 47, of Conway Dr., Axton;
- Amanda Heather Hill, 27, of Grace Drive., Bassett;
- Casey Lynn Rogers, 30, of Mountain View Rd., Meadows of Dan.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office uses the most modern technology and current best practices to reduce contraband from being smuggled into the detention center. However, due to the small physical size of narcotics such as Fentanyl and the use of body cavities, it can prove challenging to eradicate contraband completely.
The quick thinking and actions of the deputies were remarkable and most certainly saved the lives of these two women, the sheriff said.
