Hours after Spain approves extradition to US, John McAfee found dead in prison McAfee was facing tax evasion charges in the U.S. that could have put him in jail for 30 years. Author: Associated Press Updated: 3:35 PM CDT June 23, 2021 MADRID, Spain — John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Authorities said the cause of death was being investigated. Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the 75-year-old tycoon's extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges that could carry decades in prison.