Antivirus creator John McAfee reportedly found dead in prison cell

Former antivirus software creator John McAfee has died in what is reported to be a suicide as he waited for extradition to face tax evasion charges in the USA.

McAfee was arrested in Spain in October 2020, where he was awaiting extradition to the US for allegedly not paying taxes on cryptocurrency, consulting, and other business arrangements.

Hours after extradition was approved by Spanish courts, El Pais reported that McAfee was found dead in his cell from an apparent suicide where resuscitation attempts failed to revive him.

“Prison officials have found him hanging in his cell, according to police sources, who say they treat the event as a suicide,” reports El Pais.

For years, McAfee has been claiming that the US government wanted to kill him.

Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: “We’re coming for you McAfee! We’re going to kill yourself”. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn’t. I was whackd. Check my right arm.$WHACKD available only on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq:) pic.twitter.com/rJ0Vi2Hpjj

— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 30, 2019

A later tweet while he was in jail continued to show McAfee’s believe that people were out to get him.

I am content in here. I have friends.

The food is good. All is well.

Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine.

— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) October 15, 2020

McAfee rose to fame after creating the antivirus firm McAfee Associates in 1987, which was later acquired by Intel in 2010.

After leaving McAfee Associates in 1994, McAfee was involved in numerous other companies, such as Tribal Voice and Zone Labs, and more recently, the cryptocurrency company Luxcore.

In more recent times, McAfee’s exploits, lifestyle, political beliefs, and zest for cryptocurrency have made him a cult figure for many.