DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston held a news conference on Thursday, where she announced two indictments related to cases over crimes committed in jail.
One of those cases included a significant update related to the death of inmate Christon Collins, who died at the jail on March 15. His family noted inconsistencies in his death and wanted staff members at the prison to be held accountable.
“Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars," Boston said on Thursday.
Arrest made in death of Christon Collins
A man has been charged and indicted in Collins' death.
45-year-old Tobias Woods, an inmate at the time of Collins' death, was indicted on felony murder, two counts of distribution of controlled substances and items prohibited for possession by inmates on Tuesday.
Collins was just 27 years old when he died in jail. He had been in custody at the DeKalb County Jail since February 4 on charges of obstruction of law enforcement and simple battery against police.
His family says he struggled with PTSD after getting out of the military on March 15, 2018, and didn’t get the care he needed.
Video from the jail cell where Collins was housed showed him in distress on March 15, 2024, and no deputies responded. In the four hours, no deputies responded.
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At 4:10 p.m., Collins comes out of his cell. Twenty minutes later, he falls by the phone on the wall and hits his head. Several inmates checked on him and brought him into cell 206 a minute later. Ten minutes after that, inmates brought him outside into the dayroom, and Collins was left lying on the ground for over two hours without deputies coming to check on him.
Collins' mother, Jonia Milburn, previously told 11Alive's Angelina Salcedo that the neglect of detention deputies and the system contributed to her son’s death.
During the investigation, Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump represented Collins' family. On Thursday, Crump gave a statement stating that the family although relieved remained "deeply troubled by the neglectful conditions at the DeKalb County Jail.
"The family is committed to ensuring that DeKalb County addresses the systemic flaws in their criminal justice system that contributed to Christon’s untimely death. The safety and dignity of all individuals in custody must be a priority," Crump continued in his statement.
According to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office, an autopsy found that Collins died from a fentanyl overdose.
On Thursday, Boston stated that Woods allegedly sold the drug to Collins and another inmate, ultimately leading to the 27-year-old's death.
Boston also stated at Thursday's news conference witnesses said that Woods was trying to prevent Collins from getting medical assistance so he wouldn't "get caught."
"Being in jail should never be a death sentence," Boston said after announcing the update on Collins' death.
According to jail records, Woods was released on March 28, just weeks after the incident, on unrelated charges. He was arrested on Wednesday after his indictment.
“Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active,” Boston said in a news release.
Former deputy indicted for contraband, sexual contact
Boston also announced that former DeKalb County Sheriff's Deputy Joann Marks allegedly engaged in sexual contact with an inmate and gave an inmate contraband in April.
Jail employees found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes during a search of an inmate's jail cells. Those employees then interviewed Marks, who then admitted to giving the inmate contraband and having intercourse with the inmate, Boston added.
After the incident, she was arrested and fired; according to jail records, she later bonded out. After her indictment, she turned herself in.
Her charges include sexual contact by the employee, two counts of violation of oath by a public officer, and items prohibited for possession by inmates.
Marks' scheduled arraignment is on Dec. 23.