NC DPS Offender in State Prison Custody Dies of COVID-19

RALEIGH -- North Carolina Department of Public Safety:  Press Release Sep 6, 2020

An offender housed at Scotland Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.

“His death is sad and tragic, and we are continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”

The offender tested positive for the virus on Aug. 14, when he was hospitalized. He had previously tested negative for the virus twice, in late July and early August. His condition worsened, and the offender died at the hospital around 10:04 a.m. today, on Sept. 6.

The offender was a male in his early eighties who had underlying health conditions. Given his family’s right to privacy and the confidentiality of prison offender records, the Department of Public Safety will not further identify the individual.

Prisons leadership has taken more than four dozen actions throughout the North Carolina prison system to try to prevent transmission of the virus. They are found here: https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/adult-correction/prisons/prisons-info-covid-19.