Coronavirus In Jail The Life And Loss Of Nickolas Lee

This story was originally published by City Bureau on June 5, 2020.

  Lee was the third of seven detainees who have died after contracting the virus at Cook County Jail. Since then, almost 1,000 Cook County Jail employees and detainees have tested positive for COVID-19; two corrections officers and one court deputy have also died, according to WTTW. Like 98 percent of inmates at Cook County Jail, Lee was awaiting trial. He had been charged by the county for gun possession after violating federal parole.



  Nickolas Lee was a very hard worker. He loved family. He loved to cook. Oh, my god, one of the best cooks ever. He loved to see me smile. A comedian. Nickolas was a big guy, but he was a teddy bear. When I tell you he was one of the most thoughtful people, I was blessed to have him in my life. I miss him so much daily so I’m trying to do the best that I can to fight and get justice. And this is just really the beginning.



  Nickolas was totally fine and healthy when he left federal custody because he had to get a medical clearance to be transferred to Cook County Jail. His court date was supposed to be the beginning of March, but due to the pandemic, they rescheduled it to April 22. He never made it to that day.



  My husband’s calling me daily, “Did you speak to anybody?” Baby, I am trying. I’m trying. This was one of the worst things that could happen to any human being; to cry out for help and to just feel silence. Finally, they took my husband on April 6 to Stroger Hospital ICU. Cook County Jail never called me even. I found out from someone on his tier that Nickolas had gone to the hospital.



  All of my constitutional rights and Nickolas’s were violated. That’s why we have a judicial system put in place, for my husband to go back in front of the judge so he could either be found guilty or not guilty. He didn’t get that chance. Cook County Jail found him guilty and sentenced him to a slow, painful death by coronavirus. It took three inmates to die before they gave out face masks, Nickolas being the third. So I’m going to keep fighting because I have to. I want the world to know that his death could have been prevented.