A Tennessee woman who allegedly slipped meth to a prisoner has been charged with the inmate's murder.
Authorities claim Rachal Dollard, 33, gave Joshua Brown the "kiss of death" when she slipped a half-ounce balloon of methamphetamine into his mouth while giving him a peck.
According to a statement from the Tennessee Department of Correction, Dollard was visiting Brown at the Turney Center Industrial Complex in February when the fatal kiss occurred.
Brown was serving an 11-year sentence on drug-related charges and was not due to be released until 2029. After swallowing the balloon full of methamphetamine, he overdosed and was rushed to a local hospital where he died.
Last weekend, Dollard was arrested on murder charges by Tennessee Department of Correction special agents and the Dickson County Sheriff’s Department. She was taken into custody on a warrant from a sealed indictment in Hickman County and is now being held in the Hickman County jail.
Per the Tennessee Department of Correction, Dollard faced charges of second-degree murder and the introduction of contraband into a penal facility.
David Imhof, Director of TDOC’s Office of Investigations and Conduct, said that Brown's death highlighted the danger of drugs in prisons.
"This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow," he said in a statement.
"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," Imhof added.
This is not the first time an inmate has died after being orally passed drugs during a prison visit.
The New York Post reports that in 2017, Oregan woman Melissa Ann Blair was sentenced to two years in prison after she passed seven balloons full of meth to her incarcerated boyfriend Anthony Powell during a smooch.
Two of the balloons later ruptured in Powell's stomach, causing him to overdose. Prosecutors report that the prisoner later died of methamphetamine toxicity.
As well as being sentenced to two years behind bars, Blair was ordered to complete three years of post-release supervision and participate in a drug treatment program.