Man’s death marks the 17th prisoner death from COVID at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth

A 76-year-old man, who was serving a 14-year sentence for mail fraud, has died inside a Fort Worth prison after complications with COVID-19.

Eldon A. Gresham Jr., who was imprisoned at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth since October 2013, had tested positive for the virus on Jan 18. He was “immediately placed in medical isolation,” the Federal Bureau of Prisons said in a news release.

“On Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, he was evaluated by medical staff for shortness of breath and other symptoms,” the department said. “On Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, Mr. Gresham, who had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions, which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 disease, was found unresponsive and pronounced deceased by the institution physician.”

Gresham had previously tested positive for COVID-19 in late April 2020. By mid-May, he had recovered and did not have any symptoms.

Gresham’s death comes just over a month after the COVID-19 death of a 64-year-old man inside the prison. Gresham is the 17th man to die from the coronavirus at FMC Fort Worth.

People incarcerated in prisons are at least 4.77 times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than the general population, according to the Federal Public Community Defenders.