Jerry Gillespie
Jerry Gillespie, 48, was held at the Utah State Prison in Draper and had heart and lung problems before the pandemic. His wife, Brandy Gillespie, said the couple shared six children, and she said officials told her he was fine when he was not. After calling her on Nov. 4 to say he could barely breathe, he was moved to the infirmary and later hospitalized with COVID-19, according to accounts from a joint investigation by The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13. He died on Nov. 25, 2020, and his wife plans to sue the Department of Corrections on his behalf.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13 joint investigation reports he died of COVID-19, and his wife says officials told her he was fine when he was not and that the Department of Corrections did not tell the family he had the virus; she plans to sue.
Reported by: Utah Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his wife; The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13 joint investigation (reporters).