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Council Bluffs woman died from overdose in jail

Posted at 6:24 PM, Feb 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-22 19:24:33-05

Authorities say a Council Bluffs woman behind bars in Page County died in December after overdosing on meth.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says Jessica Lee, 25, was found unresponsive in her cell on Tuesday, Dec. 1 and died the next day at an Omaha hospital.

She had been in jail since she was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 19 on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, providing false information and interference with official acts.

Investigators say an autopsy determined she died from acute methamphetamine toxicity. She is believed to have hidden the drugs inside an unspecified body cavity, according to DCI.

“It was discovered that hours before Lee was found unresponsive, she had placed a recorded call to someone outside the jail stating she was dying. Lee admitted to the person she called that she had snuck meth into the jail inside a body cavity,” DCI said in a prepared statement Monday.

Authorities say the unidentified person she called did not report Lee’s statements or condition to the jail.

Foul play is not suspected in this case.