First Incarcerated Individual In Washington Dies Of COVID-19

Victor Bueno

TUMWATER – On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, an incarcerated patient of the Washington state correctional system passed away due to COVID-19. Victor Bueno, 63, had been transported to a local medical center on May 31, 2020 for treatment of COVID-19 where he remained until the time of his passing.

Bueno was most recently admitted to the state’s correctional system on Sept. 28, 2017 for a protection order violation out of Kitsap County. His estimated release date had been Sept. 19, 2020. Mr. Bueno had been housed in long-term minimum custody at the Medium Security Complex of Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC) in Connell, Wash.

“The Department of Corrections is saddened by this loss,” said Corrections Secretary Stephen Sinclair. “The health and safety of the incarcerated individuals, the community and our staff remains our top priority.”

On June 11, 2020, the CRCC Medium Security Complex was placed on restricted movement to further contain the spread of COVID-19 across the incarcerated population and staff. On June 17, 2020, the facility announced plans to test all staff within the facility and incarcerated individuals housed at the Medium Security Complex.

Corrections is working with the Washington Department of Health to develop the plan and more information on the process for testing will be available in the coming days.

The facility currently has:

  • 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff, including four in Correctional Worker Core training, and 91 confirmed cases among its incarcerated population, as of June 18, 2020;
  • 17 individuals in isolation, meaning the individuals have symptoms and are separated from healthy people, as of June 17, 2020; and,
  • 1,784 individuals in quarantine as of June 17, 2020, meaning they were exposed but do not have symptoms and are separated from healthy people.