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Veteran W.Va. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Cpl. Mark Rustemeyer, 58, is the first state correctional employee to die from COVID-19

By Sarah Calams

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A veteran corrections officer died from COVID-19 complications Saturday.

WVMetroNews.com reported that Cpl. Mark Rustemeyer, 58, who worked at the Saint Marys Correctional Center since 1998, is the first state correctional employee to die from COVID-19.

“Please keep Cpl. Rustemeyer, his wife, their family members, loved ones, friends and colleagues in your prayers as we all mourn this terrible loss of a member of our correctional family,” Commissioner Betsy Jividen said. “Special prayers also to Cpl. Rustemeyer’s longtime friends and co-workers at SMCC at this most difficult time.”

There are currently 54 active cases among Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation employees, with a total of 554 positive cases since the pandemic began.