Woman Charged With Murder After Allegedly Supplying Inmate With Drugs As They Exchanged Kiss

Tennessee woman Rachel Dollard has been arrested on a second-degree murder charge after she allegedly supplied drugs to an inmate who later died, the Daily Beast reports.

Dollard visited inmate Joshua Brown in February this year, during which she allegedly passed a balloon pellet containing at least half an ounce of ethamphetamine. According to the Dickson County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Department of Correction, Dollard passed the drugs to Brown orally when they shared a kiss. The man later died of an overdose after he swallowed the balloon pellet containing the drug.

“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,” reads the Tennessee Department of Correction statement published on Tuesday. After swallowing the pellet, Brown later died later at a local hospital.” Dollard was arrested this past weekend by TDOC special agents and officers from the local sheriff’s department.

She’s currently being held at the Hickman County jail on charges of introduction of contraband into a penal facility, and second-degree murder. “This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow,” said David Imhof, Director of TDOC’s Office of Investigations and Conduct. “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.” 

Brown was serving an 11-year prison sentence on drug-related charges, and was set to be released by 2029 at the latest. As a result of the incident, the Tennessee Department of Correction will place body scanners at all relevant facilities.