August 22, 2025
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Chiquita Roberts, 43, of West Memphis, entered a guilty plea in Crittenden County Circuit Court to the charge of First-Degree Death by Delivery. She was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, along with an additional 10 years of Suspended Imposition of Sentence.
The case stems from the November 2, 2023, in-custody death of inmate Shalanda Hurd, 40, at the Crittenden County Detention Center. At approximately 6:15 p.m., jail personnel discovered Hurd unresponsive in her cell. She had been incarcerated since February 8, 2023, on a charge of Criminal Trespassing.
At the request of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division initiated an investigation. Evidence, including security camera footage and witness interviews, indicated that Roberts—who was also in custody at the time—was responsible for sliding contraband beneath Hurd’s cell door shortly before Hurd was found.
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.
Roberts was initially charged with Aggravated Death by Delivery on December 20, 2023, while still in custody at the detention center.