By Sarah Calams
HUTCHINS, Texas — A Texas correctional officer died Thursday from COVID-19 complications.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Officer Thomas Adedayo Ogungbire, 54, had worked with TDCJ for 10 years, KHOU.com reported. TDCJ officials said Officer Ogungbire was making progress and had recently been weaned off oxygen, but took an unexpected turn for the worse.
Officer Ogungbire, who worked at the Hutchins State Jail, called in sick April 14 and tested positive for COVID-19 a week later.
“Officer Ogungbire could not have fought harder and we had prayed that he would win his fight,” Bryan Collier, TDCJ executive director, said. “Losing someone you hold dear has no measure. The fact that Officer Ogungbire fought so hard for so long makes that even tougher. We can only hope that the thoughts and prayers of the TDCJ family are some comfort to his friends and family.”
Officer Ogungbire leaves behind his wife and their two sons.