By JIM BUTLER
A Pineville woman recognized by many from her work as a cashier/hostess at a popular eatery is accused of supplying a fellow parish inmate with a fatal dose of fentanyl.
The victim is Eugenia Mitchell, 31, of Alexandria, in jail as a result of several felony allegations.
Kimberly Juderman is charged with second-degree murder and other alleged offenses. Bail is set at $1.15 million.
The following is from RPSO:
At approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, deputies at the Rapides Parish Detention Center 1 (downtown) were alerted by inmates that another inmate inside a dorm was having a medical emergency.
Deputies, along with Corrections Medical Personnel, immediately responded and entered the dorm to discover an inmate unresponsive and not breathing.
Lifesaving measures were started including the administration of Narcan for a possible opioid overdose. Personnel continued rendering medical aid until Acadian Ambulance personnel arrived and took over emergency medical care to the victim. Despite all efforts by deputies and emergency medical first responders, the individual was unable to be revived and pronounced deceased at approximately 1:45 a.m.
Corrections Security Investigators, Internal Affairs Investigators and Crime Scene Detectives responded, working throughout the night processing the scene, gathering evidence and conducting interviews.
During the course of the investigation, investigators determined an inmate booked earlier in the day, identified as Kimberly Sarah Ekko Juderman, 30, of Pineville, allegedly concealed fentanyl inside a body cavity and smuggled it into the Detention Center.
Juderman was placed inside the female dorm and at some point, allegedly provided the fentanyl to the inmate who ingested it and suffered an apparent fatal overdose. An autopsy will be performed on the victim to confirm cause of death.
As a result of the investigation, probable cause was established and an arrest warrant was obtained on Juderman for the charges of introduction of contraband into a penal facility, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and 2nd Degree Murder. Juderman remains in jail being held on a $1,150,500 bond.