Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.
Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.

Police Say Opioid Withdrawl Contributed to Female Inmate’s COVID-19 Related Death

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1 min read
July 21, 2024

BEL AIR, MD—The Office of the State Medical Examiner has determined that the death of Brittani Ugrotzi, a 33-year-old inmate at Harford County Detention Center (HCDC), was due to natural causes compounded by COVID-19 pneumonia and dehydration, complicated by opioid withdrawal. Ugrotzi died on May 7, 2024, marking the second COVID-19-related death at the facility since the pandemic began.

Ugrotzi was found unresponsive in her cell at approximately 10:40 PM on May 7. Deputies and medical service providers at HCDC immediately administered lifesaving measures until medics arrived and continued their efforts. Despite these attempts, Ugrotzi was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was then transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.

An investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, as per policy, revealed no evidence of foul play or suicide. Ugrotzi had been booked into HCDC on theft charges on May 3, 2024, and was under medical supervision for opioid withdrawal at the time of her death.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by detention centers in managing the health and safety of inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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