A Sabine Parish woman died Monday, one day after authorities said she ingested methamphetamine just before a traffic stop, then became unresponsive while handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car, authorities said.
Toxicology results are pending, but 26-year-old Katherine “Erin” Miller is believed to have died of an overdose, Sabine Deputy Coroner Ron Rivers said Thursday.
Miller and two men, Larry M. Malmay, 42, of Zwolle, and Marty Sepulvado, 44, of Shreveport, were traveling on U.S. Highway 171 in Zwolle Sunday when they were stopped by a Sabine Parish sheriff’s deputy, who had been on lookout for them following a complaint about Miller’s erratic behavior while outside of a business in Converse.
Deputies found drugs and guns in the car and detained the occupants because Malmay and Sepulvado were convicted felons and not supposed to have weapons, Sabine Sheriff Ronny Richardson said.
After Miller was handcuffed and placed in the backseat of a patrol unit, she began kicking the doors and windows, Richardson said.
A sheriff’s deputy who had also been tending to the two men went to check on Miller and found her unresponsive and face down, Richardson said. The deputy, who is also a medical doctor, performed CPR until the ambulance arrived.
Miller was taken to Sabine Medical Center then flown to Rapides Medical Center, where she was on life-support until she was pronounced dead at noon Monday.
“We think she tried to swallow the evidence,” Richardson said, explaining how he believes Miller ingested the drugs prior to or during the traffic stop.
Malmay and Sepulvado were booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while in possession of CDS and possession of firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies.