Fred J. Clanton, a 61 year-old inmate with underlying health conditions from Sussex Correctional Institution, died on Tuesday, August 11 at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus from complications from diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and COVID., the Department of Correction says.
DOVER (DE): Clanton was initially tested for COVID-19 on July 4 and tested negative as DOC administered proactive testing of all inmates as part of its aggressive COVID-19 mitigation efforts after a cluster of cases was identified through proactive monitoring and testing.
According to a news release, Clanton was among a group of three dozen SCI inmates with chronic conditions who were moved in early July to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC) to be in a non-COVID environment. Along with all SCI inmates, he received daily symptom checks, including temperature and pulse oxygen level, and when he registered a fever on July 15 he was tested again and tested positive. After his positive COVID-19 test result was returned, Clanton was transferred to the JTVCC COVID-19 Treatment Center.
As symptoms developed he was admitted to Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus for treatment on July 20, where his family has been engaged in treatment decision-making. As Clanton’s condition continued to deteriorate he was placed on comfort care. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 1:10 p.m. on August 11., the release said.
Clanton’s body was released to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to determine cause of death.
Clanton, from Bridgeville, DE, has been in DOC custody since 2018 and was serving a three-year sentence for Drug Dealing. He was sentenced as an habitual offender, including a previous conviction as a sex offender.
Last week DOC announced that 350 inmates who tested positive in July for COVID-19 have recovered from the illness. Additional inmates have continued to recover, and as of August 11 only 5 inmates statewide have active COVID-19 infection, including 2 inmates who are hospitalized.
