Saferia Johnson
Saferia Johnson, 36, grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, was her mother's only child, and was raising two young sons, Kyrei and Josiah. Her mother called her "everyone's baby" and "a sweet girl." Johnson was held at the women's work camp at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, Florida, and died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Leesburg on August 3, 2020, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and her family. She had asthma and diabetes and had asked for compassionate release, which the prison refused, and her mother said she was still preparing a court motion when she died. Her mother says the family was not told how grave her condition was before she died.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The Bureau of Prisons attributes her death to COVID-19, while her mother says the family was not told how grave her condition was and that Johnson had asked for compassionate release, which the prison refused.
Reported by: Federal Bureau of Prisons (the agency that held her); her mother.