John McAfee, founder of anti-virus software maker McAfee Associates and later a well-known bitcoin promoter and international fugitive, has died. According to Spanish news site El Pais (via Google Translate), McAfee is believed to have died by suicide in his Barcelona prison cell, but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

The initial announcement did not name McAfee, describing him only as a 75-year-old U.S. citizen prisoner awaiting extradition, but a government source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Associated Press that he was McAfee. According to the report, efforts to resuscitate prisoner McAfee after he was found were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead by prison medical staff.

While McAfee made his millions through the sale of his company and other ventures, he also faced a number of legal troubles over the past decade. Most notably, he was arrested by police as a "person of interest" in the murder of his Belizean neighbor, American Gregory Beant Fall, but was not charged. He also attempted to run for the U.S. presidency as a Libertarian candidate twice, in 2016 and 2020, but failed to win the nomination in either case.

McAfee has been in prison since October 2020, when he was arrested for tax evasion. He also faced criminal and civil fraud charges related to the promotion of cryptocurrencies. He had contested extradition to the U.S., but lost his case earlier today when Spain's high court granted his extradition to the U.S.

If you or someone you know is suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US), Crisis Services Canada (California), Samaritans (UK), or Lifeline (Australia). If you are outside of these areas, check this list for hotlines in your country.