Man is 16th to die from COVID-19 at Fort Worth prison; cases spike at women’s facility
A man incarcerated at a federal prison in Fort Worth died on Dec. 13 from COVID-19, the Bureau of Prisons said in a press release.
On Sept. 21, 14 days after Rowland Sudbeck arrived at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth prison, the 64-year-old tested positive for COVID-19. He was placed in medical isolation, according to the BOP press release. On Oct. 1, Sudbeck was considered recovered and had no symptoms, the BOP said.
However, Sudbeck had a stoke on Dec. 4 and was taken to the hospital. On Dec. 10, he had improved and was taken back to FMC Fort Worth, which is a medical facility for incarcerated men. Three days later, Sudbeck died.
Sudbeck had pre-existing medical conditions that the Centers for Disease Control consider risk factors for developing complications from COVID-19, the BOP said. The press release does not specify what Sudbeck’s medical conditions were.
Sudbeck was sentenced in the District of Nebraska to 46 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Sudbeck is the 16th man to die from COVID-19 at FMC Fort Worth, according to BOP data. At the prison 10 incarcerated men and seven BOP staffers had confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Thursday. According to BOP data, 1,190 of the 1,243 men incarcerated at the prison have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
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.
At the federal women’s prison in Fort Worth, FMC Carswell, 70 women tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday and 22 BOP staff members had the virus. According to BOP data, FMC Carswell, — which is also a federal medical facility — had the sixth highest number of cases of all BOP facilities as of Thursday. According to the BOP, 1,508 women at FMC Carswell out of 1,313 have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Holli Wrice, a woman incarcerated at FMC Carswell, said one unit in the prison ran out of hand soap and paper towels for women to use, despite the uptick in COVID-19 cases.
“Again this is a medical facility,” Wrice wrote to the Star-Telegram. “You would think soap, tissue and basic amenities would be provided at all times. If not, the option is still there, start releasing medically vulnerable inmates.”
All BOP facilities are operating under the COVID-19 Pandemic Plan, according to the BOP website, which includes that supplies for hand washing (soap, running water, hand dryers or paper towels) should be readily available and continually restocked as needed.
“The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is carefully monitoring the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As with any type of emergency situation, we carefully assess how to best ensure the safety of staff, inmates and the public,” a statement on the BOP’s website says.
