Inmate’s death at Redwood City jail investigated as homicide

REDWOOD CITY – An inmate’s death last week at a Redwood City jail is being investigated as a drug-related homicide, authorities said.

The inmate, identified as 31-year-old Markeisha Monique Renee Blount, suffered a medical emergency around 6 a.m. on Sept. 29 at the Maple Street Correctional Facility, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday. Jail personnel administered life-saving measures, including Narcan, but she died at the facility.

Detectives determined another inmate brought drugs into the jail and gave them to Blount, the sheriff’s office said, adding that “the drugs are believed to have contained fentanyl.”

The county coroner’s office will determine Blount’s official cause of death, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office identified the inmate who brought the drugs into the facility as 34-year-old Ashley Gromnicki. She remains in custody while prosecutors review the case for possible murder charges.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Markeisha’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time.”

The sheriff’s office said it has carried out several specialized sweeps of the jail for any remaining drugs.

Keeping drugs out of its jails is a “daily focus,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that it relies on body-scanning machines, dogs, searches and other measures. On Oct. 1, deputies stopped a 27-year-old San Jose man from smuggling methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a cellphone into the Maple Street Correctional Facility.

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