Full Notification

November 11, 2013, the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office requested OSBI assistance with a jail death. An autopsy now indicates the death was homicide.

Tammy Jordan was found dead inside her cell just after 8 p.m. November 11, 2013. Since no obvious signs of trauma pointed to a cause of death, the medical examiner’s office performed toxicology tests. March 10, 2014, OSBI received the results of the autopsy that lists Acute Drug Toxicity as probable cause of death.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video of Jordan’s jail cell the day she died. That video shows Jordan’s cellmate, Summer Leigh Shaw (d.o.b. 7/31/1986), pick up a cup, place it on her bed, get in bed, and cover herself with a blanket. Moments later Shaw sat up and drank from that cup. An OSBI agent interviewed Shaw. She admitted bringing into the jail a small plastic baggie of methamphetamine hidden inside a body cavity. She mixed the meth with water inside the cup and drank from that cup. She also told the agent she gave Jordan a small amount of the meth. According to Shaw, Jordan also drank the meth. A short time later, Jordan began to complain of shortness of breath and stomach pain. Shaw did not alert jail staff that Jordan needed medical assistance or that she had given Jordan the meth for fear of getting in trouble.

Shaw is now charged with one count of first degree murder and one count possession of controlled dangerous drug. She is currently jailed in Seminole County on a separate criminal complaint. Soon, she will be transferred back to the Pontotoc County jail.