JANESVILLE — More than a year after an inmate died at the Rock County Jail, her cause of death has been ruled an accident, the Dane and Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday.
Nicole Lemke, 29, was found unresponsive in her cell in the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2023 and was later pronounced dead.
According to records requested by The 69 that were released Thursday, an autopsy was performed on Feb. 2, 2024. A preliminary autopsy was performed on Feb. 3, 2023.
On the day of Lemke’s death, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigating into an overdose which occurred on Feb. 2, 2023, according to a criminal complaint filed against Amanda Buri, who had shared a jail cell with Lemke on the night she died.
Buri was placed into Lemke’s cell the night of Feb. 1, 2023, according to the medical examiner’s document.
Buri, 35, was charged on Feb. 15, 2023, in Rock County with manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance on or near a jail, manufacturing or delivering cocaine, delivering illegal articles to an inmate, and obstruction. She was released on $6,500 cash bond.
In June 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Buri after she failed to show up for a court appearance.
Buri again failed to appear in court on Aug. 3, 2023. An existing warrant for her arrest was continued, and a new bench warrant was issued for other charges, including bail jumping, online court records show.
Buri arrested
Buri
Rock County Sheriff's Office
Buri was found in the Town of Beloit on April 10 and was taken into custody. She has been charged with possession of cocaine and four counts of felony bail jumping. She is scheduled to appear in Rock County Circuit Court on Aug. 13 in connection with multiple cases.
According to a criminal complaint, Buri was arrested in the town of Beloit while the passenger in a Pontiac Vibe driving east on Henderson Avenue.
Buri verbally identified herself to an officer as Jessica Jackson, however, she matched the booking photo of Amanda Buri and Buri had used the alias to identify herself in the past.
The officer advised Buri she needed to step out of the car as they knew who she was. Buri refused to exit the vehicle. The driver unlocked the doors for the officer but Buri immediately locked her door again.
Buri eventually complied and was directed to the ground by officers. The officer reported that she had an object in her left hand and he had to pry her hand open. The object was a folded piece of aluminum and she told officers that there was fentanyl in the piece of aluminum.
During a search of the vehicle a purse was found under the front passenger seat that had a small baggie in it containing a white powder substance that later tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
Additionally, in the rear passenger area, were multiple backpacks. A black backpack contained two bags containing a white powder substance. Buri indicated that the backpack in the backseat belonged to her.
The foil that was in Buri’s hand only contained residue which tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. The two bags found in the backseat area — one weighing 4.6 grams and the other weighing 6.3 grams — both tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
