On October 15, 2021, Missouri Department of Corrections Functional Unit Manager Jason Pulliam died at St. Louis University Hospital as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Functional Unit Manager Jason Pulliam served the Department of Corrections for twenty-seven years and was currently the Funcional Unit Manager at Bonne Terre at the time of his death. Unit Manager Pulliam was a graduate of the police academy at Mineral Area College after receiving his BS at Ashford University.