James R. Francis Sr.

James R. Francis Sr., 70, died on May 9, 2020, while held at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in West Feliciana Parish, in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The department's death data lists his cause of death as COVID-19. WAFB, reviewing his autopsy and prison records, reported in July 2020 that they tie his death to the virus. Incarceration Transparency's records describe the cause as respiratory complications from COVID-19-associated multi-system organ failure.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections lists his death as COVID-19, and WAFB-TV reviewed autopsy and prison records that tie his death to the virus.

Reported by: Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (the agency that held him); autopsy and prison records reviewed by WAFB-TV (reporters); Incarceration Transparency.

Sources (3)

• Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, deaths in 2020 (data file) Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, death data files
• Incarceration Transparency, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Louisiana Deaths Behind Bars Incarceration Transparency, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, deaths behind bars
• 11 Angola ‘lifers’ have died of COVID-19 since pandemic began WAFB, July 16, 2020