Inmate Faces Murder Charge, Deputy Arrested In DeKalb Jail Probes

DECATUR, GA — A former DeKalb County deputy and an inmate awaiting trial were separately indicted in connection with suspected criminal activity inside of the DeKalb County Jail, including the death of another inmate, prosecutors said Thursday.

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted former deputy Joann Marks, 27, according to DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston's office.

Marks' indictment stems from an April probe, where jail staff found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes while searching an inmate's cell, Boston's office said. The workers then interviewed Marks, who worked inside of the jail at the time, and she acknowledged giving the contraband to the inmate, Boston's office said.

Furthermore, prosecutors said Marks acknowledged having sexual intercourse with the inmate. That same day, Marks was terminated from her post, Boston's office said.

She was charged on suspicion of first-degree sexual contact by an employee or agent, two counts of violation of oath by a public officer and items prohibited for possession by inmates, Boston's office said.

Marks surrendered to the jail Thursday morning and will be arraigned on Dec. 23, Boston's office said.

Unrelated, 45-year-old inmate Tobias Woods was indicted Tuesday on murder charges, Boston's office said. Prosecutors said Woods' indictment is in connection with the March 13 fatal fentanyl overdose of inmate Christon Collins.

Woods was accused of selling the fentanyl to Collins and another inmate.

Witnesses claimed Woods "actively worked to prevent Collins from getting medical assistance so that he wouldn’t get caught," Boston's office said. Surveillance footage captured Woods dragging Collins out of the view of jail staff and into a jail cell, prosecutors said.

In the video, prosecutors said Collins was seen stumbling in the common area and slumping against a wall before falling. He hit his head on his way to the floor, Boston's office said.

Inmates had relocated Collins to a mattress on the day room's floor, Boston's office said. Hours later, he was discovered by jail staff who notified paramedics, Boston's office said.

Collins died two days after being taken to a hospital, Boston's office said.

Woods was charged on suspicion of felony murder, two counts of distribution of controlled substances and items prohibited for possession by inmates, Boston's office said. He was taken into custody Wednesday by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, Boston's office said.

“Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active,” Boston said in a news release. “Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars.”