DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The mother of Army veteran Christon Collins continues calling for justice after her 27-year-old son died from an apparent overdose inside the DeKalb County Jail on March 15.
Hours after an indictment was announced Thursday against another inmate accused of selling Collins drugs and obstructing aid, the family continues to push for more accountability.
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DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced Thursday that Tobias Woods, 45, was indicted Tuesday on felony murder and other charges. Surveillance footage shows Collins collapsing on a wall in the pod he was being held.
"After Collins fell, Woods was the one captured on surveillance video moving Collins into his cell and out of the view of jail staff," Boston said.
Boston said Woods sold drugs to Collins before moving his unresponsive body into his cell, concealing him from jail staff.
Despite the indictment, Collins’ mother, Jonia Milburn, and her attorney, Ben Crump, said systemic failures within the jail must also be addressed.
“He was left unattended during a critical medical emergency, which we view as a significant lapse in the standard of care,” Milburn said.
Surveillance video revealed it took four hours for Collins to receive medical attention after collapsing.
Collins’ tragic death highlights ongoing issues within the jail system. Woods, who had been in jail for just two months on burglary charges at the time, allegedly sold drugs to another inmate in the same pod. That inmate also overdosed but was revived with Narcan.
Attorney Brooke Cluse, representing Crump’s firm, said, “There are some critical systemic failures within DeKalb County, and we look forward to a thorough investigation so that we can identify where those lapses are happening.”
Collins’ mother remains steadfast in her fight for justice, holding onto her son’s memory through a heartfelt video message he sent her on her birthday while deployed in the military: “I think about you every day.”
"I listen to it so many times, and it’s what keeps me going," Milburn said.
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the investigation into Collins' death remains open, with possible further accountability.
“Being in jail should not be a death sentence,” Boston said.
Collins had been incarcerated for only a month at the time of his death. His family and legal team hope the case will shine a light on broader issues within the county’s jail system and prevent similar tragedies.