Another jail inmate with virus dies

A second Oklahoma County jail inmate has died at a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

Roosevelt Larry Knox, 65, of Oklahoma City, was hospitalized Friday at St. Anthony Hospital and died early Wednesday after signing ado-not-resuscitate form, The Oklahoman was told.

The trust reported in a news release that Knox had multiple chronic health conditions and required dialysis treatments three times a week.

Knox had a lengthy criminal record and did prison time for drug and theft- related offenses. He was charged last year with assault and battery upon an emergency medical care provider. He was jailed on the charge in October and released in January on bail.

He was j ailed again July 24 for failing to appear for a court hearing, records show. He was accused in the felony charge of choking a nurse Aug. 15 at OU Medical Center while undergoing treatment

there.

“Let it be known that Knox is a serial offender,” a police officer wrote in a court affidavit.

“Over the course of my dealings with Knox, these instances of violence have only escalated from slightly pushing nurses away to now strangling them.”

More than 200 Oklahoma County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 during an outbreak that has delayed jury trials and put stress on the trust operating the jail. The trust took over jail operations July 1 from the sheriff.

The first Oklahoma County jail in mate to die after testing positive for COVID- 1 9 also had other medical conditions.

Drug trafficking defendant Clarence Merrell, 64, died Aug. 4 after being hospitalized 12 days. He was jailed June 26.

“Merrell was oxygen dependent and under doctor's care on the medical floor during his entire stay,” a trust spokesman said.