20-year veteran MCSO detention officer dies from COVID-19 complications

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — A veteran Mecklenburg County detention officer died Wednesday due to complications from COVID-19, the sheriff’s office said in a release.

Coretta Downing, 51, last worked on July 26 and told her supervisor that she wasn’t feeling well three days later and that she was going to see a doctor. Officials said Downing was hospitalized on July 30.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office learned Thursday, the day after she died, that Downing had tested positive for COVID-19.

“MCSO is deeply saddened by the loss of Officer Downing; our hearts, prayers and condolences go out to her grieving family. This came as quite a surprise to our organization as we all are dealing with the grief of the passing of one of our own,” Sheriff Garry McFadden said.

Downing had worked with the sheriff’s office since 2000 and worked as a detention officer for the duration of her career.

The sheriff’s office conducted contact tracing and notified anyone who was determined to be in close contact with Downing. Officials said no jail residents were at risk of exposure because Downing had worked in the control room since April.

McFadden told Channel 9 that while Downing remotely opened and closed doors in the control room, she also opened doors in many other ways.

“She opened doors and we hope that the door is being opened now for her, in heaven. That’s the door that somebody’s going to open for her,” he said.

The jail has had other staff and more than 40 inmates test positive for the virus, but Mcfadden said it’s impossible to know how or where Downing got it.

20-year veteran MCSO detention officer dies from COVID-19 complications

Cox Media Group