May 2020

TDCJ Mourns Loss of Maria Mendez

Correctional Officer Maria Mendez of the Wynne Unit was hospitalized after feeling short of breath after work on April 12, 2020 with a cough and slight fever. On April 15th, she was transferred to Methodist Hospital in Houston where she was placed on a ventilator in Intensive Care.

Mendez passed away this morning May 9th, 2020. She was 59 years old and had tested positive for COVID-19 in April.

Ms. Mendez served the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for nearly 11 years.