McAfee founder found dead in Spanish prison after extradition ruling in US

The police are investigating the suicide version, although the businessman himself had hinted recently that he was not going to end his life

The newspaper El Pais stated that John McAfee, an American and British computer programmer and businessman, was found dead in a prison in Spain.

According to the Spanish newspaper, citing police sources, McAfee committed suicide in the prison of the municipality of Sant Esteve Cesrovires in Catalonia. The body was discovered in a prison cell. Doctors who arrived on the scene tried to carry out resuscitation, but it was unsuccessful.

However, in a statement released on 15 October 2020, McAfee said he had no intention of committing suicide. He stated that he was happy with everything and had friends.

“Know that if I hang myself like Epstein, it will not be my fault”, –  he wrote.

McAfee was detained last year in Spain at the request of the US. Earlier, it was reported that a court in the kingdom had approved his extradition to the United States. According to the newspaper, he was found dead in his cell in a prison in the province of Barcelona. Law enforcement authorities in Catalonia have launched an investigation into what happened but so far all indications are that McAfee, 75, committed suicide.

The businessman founded McAfee in 1987, which is a major developer of anti-virus software. The company was acquired by Intel Corporation in 2011. In mid-June, a hearing was held regarding his extradition from Spain to the United States, where he described himself as a victim of political persecution by the United States.