Authorities rule nursing home resident death a heroin overdose

Authorities ruled Friday that a woman found dead in a nursing home earlier this year died of a heroin overdose.

Ona Smith was found dead May 30 at Heartland Nursing Home in Portsmouth, about 90 miles south of Columbus. She was recovering from surgery at the nursing home, said Scioto County Prosecutor Mark Kuhn to the Associated Press.

Her death was not intentional, said Scioto County Sheriff’s Capt. David Hall. Authorities say she was a heroin addict before she was admitted.

Her husband, Timmy Smith, 53, is accused of supplying her drugs and is suspected of living in his wife’s room against nursing home policy.  He was being in Scioto County Jail on charges of involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs, heroin trafficking and heroin possession. A hearing has been set for Nov. 18.

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Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.