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WILKES-BARRE — A woman accused of supplying drugs in a fatal overdose earlier this year was found unresponsive in her prison cell early Friday and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, officials say.

Joan Rosengrant, 47, of Wilkes-Barre, had just been in court Thursday.

Rosengrant was found unresponsive in her cell at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility at approximately 2 a.m., according to Mark Rockovich, county director of corrections.

Officers began CPR, and 911 was called. Rosengrant was transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at approximately 3:05 a.m.

Rockovich said authorities believe Rosengrant’s death was due to natural causes, but that conclusion is not final. He noted an investigation is being conducted by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office, and an autopsy will be performed.

Rosengrant was in district court less than 24 hours before her death.

She and co-defendant Eric Scott Malia, 32, also of Wilkes-Barre, waived preliminary hearings in a case where they are accused of drug delivery resulting in death.

Rosengrant and Malia were charged in April, marking the first arrests of their kind in Luzerne County’s history. State law was changed several years ago, eliminating a requirement to prove alleged dealers had malicious intent in order to charge them in a death.

They are accused in the January overdose of Michael Gumaer. An autopsy confirmed he died due to the combined effects of heroin and fentanyl, drugs that police say were supplied to him by Rosengrant and Malia.

Rosengrant, of Monroe Street, had been incarcerated for lack of $500,000 bail.

Rosengrant
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ROSENGRANT-2.jpg.optimal.jpgRosengrant Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Patrick Kernan

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Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6119 or on Twitter @PatKernan