Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal Slidell inmate drug overdose case

SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — A Slidell woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to her role in a 2023 inmate drug overdose case.

The Office of District Attorney Collin Sims reported that 40-year-old Sarah Blackmon pled guilty to charges of manslaughter, introduction of a controlled dangerous substance into a correctional facility and failure to seek assistance resulting in death on April 21.

Court documents state that on Nov. 22, 2023, Slidell police found an inmate dead in their cell during a routine walkthrough. An autopsy reportedly determined the inmate had died due to a fentanyl overdose.

Slidell Police Department detectives said Blackmon was moved into the victim’s cell the day before and was reportedly seen on surveillance video “removing something from a body cavity and eventually passing it to the victim.”

Court documents state Blackmon told detectives during questioning that the drugs inside the body cavity were not found during a strip search and that she later shared them with the victim.

According to the district attorney’s office, Blackmon did not seek assistance because “she knew she was the one who provided the drugs that likely caused the victim’s death.”

Blackmon was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the manslaughter charge, and five years on each of the remaining charges. The district attorney’s office reported that the sentences will run concurrently.

Latest Posts