Three female prisoners were sent to the hospital Friday night, Feb.17 and two of them were admitted after swallowing drugs that had been smuggled into the jail. One of the two inmates hospitalized had to be airlifted. All are now back in jail.

The women, who had apparently hidden the narcotics in their body cavities, consumed the drugs fearing they would be caught with them.

As a result of the investigation, a total of four prisoners have been charged with possession of contraband in a penal institution including twenty-five year-old Trinity Kystrina Wildbur of Chattanooga; thirty-nine year-old Amy Jeannette Lawson of Smithville; twenty-four year old Natalie Gail Barrett of Smithville; and twenty year-old Olivia Hope Barber of Smithville.

After the sheriff’s department received a tip that a female prisoner had drugs concealed in her when she entered the jail, Sheriff Patrick Ray ordered a surprise shakedown of the women’s cells. Their bunks and personal belongings were searched.

All the female prisoners were then removed from the cells one at a time and taken to a bathroom where they were individually strip searched by a female correctional officer before being taken to a holding cell.

Apparently fearing they would be subject to a warrant for a body cavity search, three of the female inmates swallowed the drugs they had hidden in their bodies. All three were taken to the hospital after one of them began showing signs of intoxication. Two were hospitalized through Monday and the other was examined and sent back to the jail Friday night.

Sheriff Ray said that Wildbur was found to have meth in personal belongings on her bunk.

A glass looking substance believed to be meth was found in Lawson’s personal belongings along with a blue pill believed to be morphine and other unidentified pills.

In addition to the contraband offense, Barrett and Barber were charged with simple possession of a schedule II and V drug. According to Sheriff Ray, Barrett and Barber had on them a blue pill believed to be morphine and a white capsule pill believed to be Lyrica.

Bond for Wildbur and Lawson is $3,000 each and $4,500 for Barrett and Barber. All will appear in court on the charges March 2.