Woman dies while in custody in McDonald County
Toxicology results pending . . .
A woman has died while in police custody in McDonald County and an investigation is underway.
LyndaBeth Meekins of Anderson was reported to have brandished a knife and threatened to burn a house down last Wednesday.
While being processed by deputies, she became unresponsive.
McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall says Meekins was taken to Freeman Neosho Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The McDonald County Coroner was contacted, and an autopsy ordered.
According to Coroner William “B.J.” Goodwin, III, preliminary results showed that Meekins had been a heavy drug user but the autopsy did not show any cause of death.
Goodwin attributed the death to a possible overdose. Toxicology results are pending at this time.
Hall says the Newton County Sheriff’s office will investigate the case to ensure maximum transparency.