Former inmate and jail deputy indicted in separate DeKalb County Jail cases

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston is cracking down on crimes inside the DeKalb County Jail.

"I am announcing two indictments related to criminal activity inside the DeKalb County Jail," Boston said during a press conference on Thursday afternoon. 

According to DA Boston, a former inmate, 45-year-old Tobias Woods, has been arrested in connection with the death of 27-year-old Christon Devante Collins, who was in the DeKalb County Jail after being charged with obstruction of law enforcement and simple battery against police.

Tobias Woods and Joann Marks

Collins, an Army veteran, suffered from mental health issues and had been in and out of jail for approximately three years before his death in March 2024. Since his passing, Collins’ family has pushed for answers and transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Collins' family has said that the surveillance video from the jail did not match the narrative provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the video showed her son lying on the floor for hours before any personnel responded.

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Boston stated that an autopsy revealed Collins died of a fentanyl overdose. The resulting investigation uncovered that Woods sold drugs laced with fentanyl to Collins and another inmate.

"It's absolutely, tragic. That's why we wanted everyone to know that we hold people accountable. As I said, being in jail should not ever be a death sentence. Mr. Collins stood charged, arrested, but he had not been proven guilty of any count," Boston said. 

Christon Collins died in DeKalb County Jail. His mother says her son, an Army veteran, was suffering from mental health issues and should have never been in the in the first place. (Supplied)

After ingesting the drugs, Collins reportedly began stumbling around the pod before slumping against a wall and falling over and hitting his head.

Woods then allegedly dragged Collins into his cell. He did not receive medical treatment until several hours later when he was moved by inmates onto a mattress in the dayroom. At that point, jail personnel discovered him and called for help. Collins died two days later in a hospital. 

A second inmate who also ingested the drugs recovered. 

On Tuesday, a grand jury returned an indictment against Woods, and he was arrested by DeKalb County's fugitive unit on Wednesday afternoon.

"Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active," said District Attorney Boston. "Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars."

The family issued a statement through civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump following the announcement saying that although they are relieved to see an indictment brought against Tobias Woods, they remain "deeply troubled" by the neglectful conditions at DeKalb County Jail and believe Christon should have been monitored and protected given his documented mental health history.

District Attorney Boston also announced the arrest of former jail employee Deputy Joann Marks.

According to Boston, Marks provided cigarettes and a cellphone to an inmate in the jail and reportedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the inmate.

"Deputy Marks also admitted to having sexual intercourse with him.  The sheriff's office arrested and fired the deputy the same day," DA Boston revealed. 

Marks was indicted by the grand jury on Tuesday and turned herself in on Wednesday. An arraignment has been scheduled for Dec. 23.