Today, two Columbus, Indiana women were arrested on charges related to a death investigation that began on October 7, 2017 when an inmate, Angela Blair, age 42, Elizabethtown, Indiana died while in custody at the Bartholomew County Jail.
The investigation by Detective Christopher Howell, Indiana State Police-Versailles, determined that the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office ruled that Blair died of methamphetamine intoxication.
The investigation further revealed that Debin Paige Gabbard, age 27, Columbus, Indiana smuggled methamphetamine into the jail when she was arrested on October 5, 2017.
Gabbard allegedly gave the drugs to Mary L. Snyder, age 19, Columbus, Indiana. Snyder then provided methamphetamine to Blair while they were housed together in the jail.
Blair collapsed and passed away soon after obtaining the methamphetamine from Snyder.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.
As a result, warrants were issued on February 8, 2018 for both Gabbard and Snyder.
Today, the warrants were served on both women who were still incarcerated.
Gabbard was still incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail while Snyder had been transferred to Rockville Correctional Facility where she is serving time on an unrelated charge.
Gabbard was arrested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, level 5 Felony, Trafficking with an Inmate, level 5 Felony, Possession of a Narcotic Drug, level 6 Felony, and Possession of Methamphetamine, level 6 Felony. Snyder was charged with one count of Possession of Methamphetamine, level 6 Felony.
Both women will remain incarcerated, pending their initial court appearances in Bartholomew County.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office, and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.
The initial investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives has determined that the jail staff responded to a cell after an inmate, Angela L. Blair, age 42, Elizabethtown, Indiana was apparently in need of medical attention.
As the jail staff arrived at the cell and spoke to Blair, she collapsed and became unresponsive. The jail staff immediately provided her with medical treatment and called an ambulance from Columbus Regional Hospital.
Attempts to revive Blair were unsuccessful. She was pronounced deceased by the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office.
An autopsy was conducted at Columbus Regional Hospital. The autopsy and toxicology results are pending at this time.
Blair was serving a sentence for a probation violation on drug related charges.
