HENDRICKS COUNTY— The Indiana Department of Correction is investigating how an offender at the Plainfield Correctional Facility was able to obtain drugs that ultimately killed him.
Jeremy Jones died on Sept. 28 at the state prison from “methamphetamine intoxication,” according to the Hendricks County Coroner’s office.
The coroner said the manner of Jones’ death was “undetermined”, which means they could not determine whether it was an accident, suicide, natural or homicide.
The Indiana Department of Correction’s investigation is underway to figure out how Jones obtained the methamphetamine.
“All deaths are investigated, and when drugs are suspected, a key part of that investigation is how any contraband got into a facility,” said Annie Goeller, an IDOC spokesperson in an email to WRTV. “This investigation is ongoing.”
This is not the first death attributed to meth at Plainfield Correctional.
Offender Jeffrey Capes died on June 11 at the state prison.
He died of Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular disease, however, the coroner said "methamphetamine intoxication" contributed to his death.
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute dashboard shows in 2022, 6 in custody prison deaths were reported in Hendricks County, most of them due to natural causes.
IDOC records for 2022 deaths are not yet available.
IDOC records show 15 people died in custody at Plainfield Correctional Facility in 2021.
Nearly all of them were listed as "natural" deaths, however one was a suicide, one was undetermined and one death was listed as "unnatural."
According to a report from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, 129 people died in a state prison in 2020.
Nearly 83% of deaths reported within the state prisons were due to natural causes/illness.
PREVIOUS | Inmates die from COVID-19 at Plainfield Correctional
Just under 8% of deaths resulted from suicide, 5% were classified as accidental, and 2% were homicides.
Two prison deaths were still pending investigation in the manner of death at the time of the report.
Jeremy Jones was in state prison for murder, according to the IDOC website.
He was convicted in Marion County in 2003, records show.
-
Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants
President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants. Here's what to know.More than 12 arrests made during drug raids across Central Indiana
A series of raids led by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) led to the arrest of more than 12 people Wednesday morning.Try this pass to explore holiday attractions in Marion, Hamilton Counties
There’s so much to see and do here in Central Indiana this holiday season. Visit Indy and Visit Hamilton County launched the Holiday Adventure Pass to encourage you to experience it all.Thanksgiving meals expected to be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving dinners are expected to be more affordable for the second straight year. Learn why.