Death Of 1 Rhode Island Inmate, OD Of Another Leads To 2 Arrests

CRANSTON, RI — The sudden death of one Rhode Island inmate and the overdose of another prompted an investigation that led to the arrest of the surviving prisoner and his girlfriend, police said.

The probe was launched after inmate Eric Correia was found dead in his Adult Correctional Institution-Intake Service Center cell the morning of Aug. 9, according to a Rhode Island State Police report.

"During a subsequent search of Inmate Correia’s cell a white powdery substance suspected of being illegal narcotics was located," the report said. "The substance field tested positive for the presumptive presence of Fentanyl."

No signs of trauma or foul play were discovered in either Inmate Correia’s cell or on his body, according to the report.

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Two days prior, another inmate, 32-year-old Nicholas Morra, overdosed in his cell at the intake service center, the report said.

Morra was discovered unresponsive in his cell shortly after 8:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and was administered
Narcan, according to the report, which said he "subsequently underwent a urinalysis which tested positive for the presence of fentanyl."

Less than two hours before he overdosed, Morra was visited by his girlfriend, Kimberly McArthur, 32, the report said.

Surveillance video showed McArthur "entering the visiting area and sitting down at a visiting table," the report said.

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"It should be noted that Ms. McArthur is wearing some type of white/skin colored soft cast on her right wrist/arm," according to the report. "Ms. McArthur is constantly swiveling in her chair, unable to sit still and keeps her hands clasped together while waiting for Inmate Morra."

When Morra arrived, he was also wearing a bandage, according to the report, which said it was on his right hand.

"Inmate Morra and Ms. McArthur embrace in a hug and sit down at the visiting table," the report said.

"Inmate Morra immediately inserts his right index finger into the opening of the cast located near Ms. McArthur’s palm, according to the report. "Inmate Morra then moved his left hand toward his right-hand in a swift motion and began to adjust the bandage wrap on his right hand. Inmate Morra pressed his right hand into the table and periodically looked down at the bandage. Throughout the visit Inmate Morra adjusted the bandage several times."

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An investigator wrote in the report that he knew "this motion was indicative of an inmate retrieving contraband."

Minutes after his visit with McCarthur ended, Morra and Correia engaged in conversation as they walked together, according to the report.

The two went their separate ways but a short time later "Correia arrived at Inmate Morra’s cell and stopped at the door," the report said.

"The two inmates had a face-to-face conversation through the cell door window," according to the report, and before leaving Correia places a spray bottle on the floor by the door.

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Morra overdosed within an hour of Correia walking off, the report said.

Two weeks later, the state police served a search warrant on McArthur's Providence apartment and she admitted to smuggling the fentanyl into the jail and to Morra, according to the report.

McArthur was then arrested on charges of conveyance of unauthorized articles to or from an institution and conspiracy.

Two weeks after McArthur's arrest, investigators met with Morra, according to the report.

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"During the interview Mr. Morra was evasive and stated that Ms. McArthur had provided him 'chewing tobacco' during the previously mentioned visit," the report said, but he eventually "admitted that he and Inmate Correia would use narcotics. Inmate Morra stated that he would obtain various narcotics from Inmate Correia."

Morra was then also charged with conveyance of unauthorized articles to or from an institution and conspiracy.

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