Melissa Boylan
Melissa Boylan, 30, of Tremont, was held at the Lorain County Jail in Elyria, Ohio, where she was placed in a drug-detox program after being booked in late June 2026. She left a two-year-old son, and her family, including her mother and father, is grieving. Jail staff found her dead in a portable bed in a female housing pod around 7 a.m. on June 28, 2026. The coroner, Frank Miller, has said toxicology found fentanyl, xylazine, fluorofentanyl and medetomidine, and ruled the death accidental, though how she obtained the drugs is still under investigation. Her family's attorney, Michael Pasternak, says jail medical staff failed to treat her severe withdrawal symptoms and that she should have been taken to a hospital; the sheriff's office said it is reviewing logs to verify she was checked on.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled the death an overdose from fentanyl, xylazine, fluorofentanyl and medetomidine, while the family's attorney Michael Pasternak says jail medical staff failed to treat her severe withdrawal symptoms and she should have been in a hospital.
Reported by: Lorain County Coroner Frank Miller (medical examiner or coroner); Lorain County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held her); Attorney Michael Pasternak, representing the family (family or their lawyers).
Sources (8)
- Woman dies in custody at Lorain County jail
- Woman, 30, dies in Lorain County Jail
- Lorain County jail death: Young mother dies after 30 hours in custody
- Investigation underway for Lyndhurst woman who died at Lorain County Jail
- Lorain County jail death: Young mother dies after less than 30 hours in custody
- Coroner: Lyndhurst woman who died at Lorain County Jail overdosed - News-Herald
- Coroner: Lyndhurst woman who died at Lorain County Jail overdosed
- Coroner: Lyndhurst woman who died June 28 in Lorain County Jail was killed by accidental overdose (UPDATED)