Pinellas Jail Inmate Tested Positive For COVID-19 Before Death

CLEARWATER, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said a Pinellas County Jail inmate tested positive for the coronavirus shortly before he died on Friday.

The sheriff's office said 70-year-old Sir Walter Boykin III was booked into the jail May 26 on two warrants from the Clearwater Police Department for failure to appear on a felony petit theft charge. Boykin pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to jail with a projected release date of Oct. 11.

On Sept. 4, Boykin told jail medical staff that he was feeling weak. He was evaluated by a nurse who administered a COVID-19 test that showed he was positive.

He was taken to the hospital and admitted into the intensive care unit where he died Friday.

During their investigation, detectives found no evidence that Boykin had any physical fights or suffered any injuries while he was in jail.

As of April 13, the sheriff's office made coronavirus vaccinations available to all inmates on a voluntary basis, and Boykin could have requested a vaccination at any time.

The sheriff's office said Boykin did not show symptoms when he was booked into jail and did not request a vaccination while he was in jail.

The Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office will attempt to determine the cause of death.