West Memphis, AR – A West Memphis woman was sentenced this week for her role in a 2023 inmate death inside the Crittenden County Detention Center.
According to the Arkansas State Police, 43-year-old Chiquita Roberts pleaded guilty on Wednesday to First-Degree Death by Delivery. She was sentenced on August 20 in Crittenden County Circuit Court to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, along with an additional 10-year suspended sentence.
The case centers on the November 2, 2023, in-custody death of 40-year-old Shalanda Hurd. Jail staff discovered Hurd unresponsive in her cell around 6:15 p.m. that day. She had been held at the facility since February 8, 2023, on a criminal trespassing charge.
According to the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police, a criminal investigation was launched after surveillance footage and witness statements indicated that Roberts—who was also incarcerated at the time—allegedly slid contraband under Hurd’s cell door shortly before she was found unresponsive.
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory later determined that Hurd died from acute fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.
Roberts was initially charged with Aggravated Death by Delivery while still in custody in December 2023.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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