Former Buncombe Sheriff Bobby Medford dies of COVID-19 in federal custody

Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Lee Medford, who was serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison on corruption and extortion charges, has died from COVID-19.

Medford, 74, died Wednesday, June 3, at a hospital outside of the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, according to a Bureau of Prisons press release. Medford was first evaluated for hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, on May 20, by medical staff at the prison.

Medford was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where he tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Durham television station CBS17 first reported Medford's death and shared the press release, which had not yet been posted to the BOP website June 3, with the Citizen Times.

"On Thursday, May 21, 2020, his condition declined and he was placed on a ventilator," the release states. "On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, Mr. Medford, who had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 disease, was pronounced dead by hospital staff."

Read more: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2020/06/03/former-sheriff-bobby-medford-dies-federal-custody-covid-19/3138985001/
(Asheville Citizen-Times)