Report: Prisoner Convicted in Double Murder Dies of Coronavirus

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — The first Illinois prisoner to die after testing positive for coronavirus was a Chicago man convicted of the murder of a Buffalo Grove pastor and his daughter, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the inmate's death on Monday but did not disclose his identity. The department had also confirmed 12 inmates who were hospitalized, 77 more prisoners exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus and 11 prison staff members being isolated.

Russell Sedelmaier, 59, was incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. He was to life in prison for the murders of 65-year-old Rev. Ivon Harris and 24-year-old Sarah Harris.

In response to the number of cases of coronavirus in Illinois prisons, the Department of Corrections is taking a number of proactive steps to reduce the spread of the virus. Correctional centers with a confirmed case or placed on lockdown, meaning there is no movement around the facility except for medical care, according to IDPH. Staff who work with individuals under isolation or quarantine are wearing full protective equipment and have their temperature checked daily as they enter a correctional facility.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 3: 8,904 Cases, 210 Deaths

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