May 2020

TDCJ Mourns the 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.