John McAfee death: Biography of John McAfee, VirusScan coder wey die for Spain prison

Anti-virus software entrepreneur John McAfee don die for one Barcelona prison cell.

MacAfee die hours afta Spanish court agree to move am go US to face tax evasion charges.

Catalan Justice Department say prison medics try to safe e life but dia try no work.

For one statement dem say "everything show say" McAfee take im own life.

Di British-American computer programmer and businessman die at age 75.

Dem born am at 18 September 1945.

McAfee VirusScan help to spark a multi-billion dollar industry in di computer world.

And e eventually sell am to technology giant Intel for more than $7.6bn (£4.7bn).

In October 2020, McAfee chop arrest inside Spain wen e wan board a plane to Turkey.

E chop accuse of failing to file tax returns for four years, despite earning millions.

Di na money John McAfee make from consulting work, speaking engagements.

Crypto-currencies and selling rights to im life story, also follow for di millions.

Who be di real John McAfee?

For October 2013 John McAfee bin tell BBC about di time e bin dey on di run.

Dat na after dem find neighbour murdered.

Him also speak about im drug addiction and why im say Silicon Valley needs a shake-up.

John McAfeebe di man wey jump-start di multibillion-dollar anti-virus industry.

And before im imprisonment e bin think say e fit make you invisible for di internet.

Within tech circles e don tey wey e be legend. But for most pipo, McAfee become popular last year wen e run leave e Central American home- with stained teeth, dyed hair to disguise imsef- instead of to allow di authorities question am as e accuse dem say dem dey corrupt.

E tell BBC say e "no get connection whatsoever" with im neighbour death. Police say e remain "person of interest".

Back then for US, afta e post footage of young female "friends" wey dey stroke im naked tattooed body, e now plan to neutralise di NSA's cyber-surveillance system.

One journalist wey bin interview McAfee many times describe am as "master manipulator" wey dey lie and deceive.

"Some pipo dey call me paranoid, schizophrenic, di wild child of Silicon Valley," McAfee tok.

But e get different view from those pipo: "I be entrepreneur. I always don be dis since. I dey curious and I dey enjoy to solve problems.

"I think say na wen we step out of di road, step outside di box, we go become our own person and we waka fearlessly down paths oda pipo no go look at, dat na how true progress dey come. And sometimes true beauty also.

"We dey miss dat. We dey miss di pipo wey get di courage to waka enta di wilderness just to see wetin dey there."

Dis na how Amy Emshwiller, di teenage ex-prostitute wey e live with for Belize, describe am: "E be sweet, generous person. E like adventures. E dey serious and usually e get dark sense of humour. E be sweet guy generally. E just no like to be [expletive] with."

Who be di real John McAfee?

To get any chance to know and get opinion of what really motivate im erratic-sounding behaviour afta di killing of Gregory Faull, you must travel deep into di 68-year-old past.

John McAfee: Addicted and expelled

Upon im Southern accent, di bleached-blond and goateed businessman na in fact half-British - di son of one Englishwoman wey meet one American soldier wey dey for UK during World War II.

"I feel as much British as I do American," McAfee tok. "Difference no dey too much between our kontries."

Dey move go Virginia wen e be young, where e bin get troubled childhood. E papa na abusive alcoholic wey be say, wen McAfee dey 15 years, e shot himsef die. For di following years, McAfee say, im too begin to dey drink heavily and dey take drugs, but still manage to maintain e promising academic career.

But dis career end for late 1960s wen Northeast State Louisiana State College cancel e PhD in mathematics afta dem reveal say e go sleep with one undergraduate wey e dey mentor.

Two of dem later marry and McAfee turn im skills to series of programming jobs with some of di biggest tech organisations of di time including Nasa, General Electric, Siemens, Univac and Xerox, but e still continue with im addictions.

Most of my bosses also use drugs of some kind," e tok. "I dey for di tech field, afta all, we be di leading edge for technology and di leading age in personal experimentation.

"I gatz to hide am from my mama and sometimes from my wife. But for work environment - depending on where you dey work - for some companies dem dey take drugs openly during lunchtime for pipo offices. Dis na strange time."

E mata come out for public for di early 1980s afta e wife leave am, im most recent employer, Omex, let am go and di heavy way e dey depend on drug force am to go look for help.

"Na 1984, di last time wey I take drugs, drink alcohol or sell drugs for dat matter," e tok.

"I simply stop. I start to dey go to one organisation wey dem call Alcoholics Anonymous... and dat na my last taste of dat world.

"However, e still dey with me. My body dey covered with tattoos from dat period. And I dey fear say some of my ideas and concepts and attitudes wey don already dey during dat time still dey with me. Dat na why pipo think say, maybe, I dey little bit off di wall."

John McAfee: Anti-virus millionaire

Even with e troubles, McAfee manage to get one job for defence contractor Lockheed Martin, where e work on one classified voice-recognition program.

There e come across one unusual bit of self-replicating code wey dey designed to copy itsef on to any floppy disk wey anybody put inside affected computers. Wen dey examine am, e contain di message: "Welcome to di dungeon. Beware of dis VIRUS."

"Wen I first read about di Pakistani Brain virus, I neva hear of di virus before, nobody for technology, sector don hear am. E fascinate me." McAfee tok.

E work out a way to disinfect di computers and then spread di cure through di bulletin board system, one precursor to di web.

Di challenge inspire am to set up one business of im own: McAfee Associates - one firm wey e later sell, years afta e don leave, to Intel for more than $7.6bn (£4.7bn).

"I know say di field go become extremely large because pipo being who dey be, hackers go always dey," e tok.

"Dat na why we get graffiti for walls of di inner city. Pipp like to deface things. Dey like to disrupt things.

"So, with dis fact, computer viruses no go stop and e go even worse pass dis. I just do wetin I fit do to dey for di forefront of dat industry for as long as I fit."

Upon dis, e say, e neva imsef use any of di products wey di firm make wey continue to bear e name.

"I dey constantly under attack, yet I use no software protection.

"I protect mysef by constantly changing my IP [internet protocol] address, by not attaching my name to any device I use, and by not going on to sites where you fit pick up virus.

"Porn sites, for example, I just no dey go there.

"Secondly, I dey practise safe computing. If someone sends me email with link, I no go enta there until I fit call di person to verify say na im send di email give me.

"E sounds strange to live dat way, but I go rather trust my own devices and thoughts than someone else software."

After e sell im stake for di business for 1994, McAfee move on to found and sell oda companies.

E include one instant messaging system, one firewall provider.

McAfee also sell one ranch from where e dey offer flights in "trikes" - low-flying, engine-powered cabins suspended from hang-gliders.

John McAfee: Research and raid

For 2008, for di age odas dey think of starting, McAfee move go jungle of Belize with di intention of trying to cure anoda kind of infection, according to am.

"I come across one concept wey dem call quorum sensing, wey be di technique wey bacteria dey use tskr communicate with each oda.

"Up until about 10 years ago we no even know say bacteria dey communicate, but we find out say dem get very sophisticated communication system. I want to explore and investigate dat to see if we fit come up with new antibiotics."

E pick di area, e say, because di plants wey dey grow along di kontri Rio Nuevo river contain compounds dat inhibit bacteria from sending chemical signals to each oda and so block dia ability to co-ordinate attack.

John McAfee: Things no go as e plan am

Di first sign of trouble na wen journalists wey e invite come e Carmelita, Orange Walk, base write stories wey show say dem no know wetin to make out of di operation.

Then one quanta with di microbiologist e bin dey work with, Allison Adonizio, put di project for risk wen she quit.

Dr Adonizio, wey now dey stay for Philadelphia, no want tori pipo to interview her.

For April 2012, mata come out for public wen di Belize police force Gang Suppression Unit raid di research facility.

McAfee say di officers claim say dem suspect say e dey use di place to make di illegal psycho-stimulant methamphetamine.

Dey shoot im dog, e tok, seize both im passport and licensed weapons on di property, and put am for prison for some time before dey drop di charges.

"Under no circumstances dem really believe say na meth lab," e states.

"Everybody know say na biotech lab because I fon bin hire half of di pipo for di village to work there. Dey all know wetin I dey do there.

'Na pirate haven. Na extremely corrupt and dangerous place.

"I know dis and all my friends advise me against am. I just think say I dey smart enough to sidestep am. Sadly, I dey wrong.

"I dey there for one year and di local politician send one representative and ask for $2m for one campaign donation. I tell am no. Two weeks later dey raid my compound."

McAfee say wen dem bin ask am for di cash di second time, e let pipo for public know, e post messages online, and speak to local and international press about di incident. E come turn political.

Di Belize Times - publish by di leading opposition party - suggest say di "barbaric assault" on McAfee na "global black eye" for di nation and na threat to dia tourist industry.

"I wish say I dey smarter socially," McAfee tok.

"I think I get di ability to solve mathematical equations and programming issues very easily, but I no too sabi for some social situations. And certainly for Belize I no know wetin dey."

At di time of di raid, McAfee bin Start one affair with one 16-year-old ex-prostitute wey e meet on Belize Independence Day.

"I bin dey party, I dey drink, and I go dis bar and di owner tok say one friend want to meet me and like me," remembers Amy Emshwiller, wey still dey live for Belize.

"[E tok say] I fit get your number, and then two weeks later e call me."

She say e no know sat she dey less than one quarter of im age.

"E no know how old I dey. I lie to am say I be18, and e think say e dey OK.

"I let am fall in love first before I tell am my age.

"Wen I tell am, e dey shocked say e no know wetin to do. E dey surprise. And e dey like: 'I still love you, I no know wetin to do. I dey in love with one young girl.' Dat na how e happen."

McAfee long-term American girlfriend leave am. And like many things for e life, di new affair get complication.

One night Emshwiller take McAfee gun. She aim e head, squeeze her eyes shoot and pull di trigger. But she miss.

E continue di relationship.

"Amy, for one - and many girls inside Belize - get bad story of abuse wey be say if I tell you, you no go believe am," McAfee explain.

"Of course she no go dey well. Of course she go get issues.

"Wen she try to shoot me for head wetin I see na frightened child.

Wetin I see na confused girl wey dem don abuse well-well - physically, sexually, emotionally - beyond any description.

"Wetin you go do? Throw her out? Dis no go help her.

"All she do na to burst my eardrum. I dey deaf for one ear now, but I no get bullet inside my head. Forgiveness na one of di graces wey we get as human beings. You go blame me as I continue to stay there?"

Emshwiller confam di event but say she bin want to make am fear, and not to kill am afta e tok say e want anoda girl. She add say dis no be di only incident wey provoke her jealousy.

"One time before, I hold am for corner and I put knife for e throat," she tok.

"And e just tok say: 'Go ahead. Kill me.' And I no fit do am. I just drop di knife and waka comot."

'Hatchet buried'

On Thursday, 8 November 2012, McAfee tori enta local headlines wen e donate 40 stun guns, handcuffs and batons to di local police for one press conference.

Mayor Daniel Guerrero thank am and say: "Crime dey affect di tourism industry as we don dey list for travel advisories; time don reach to stop dis. Make we protect our industry and turn San Pedro into di safe haven once more."

Dat night di local TV bulletin declare ssy "dem don formally bury dia hatchet", dis suggest say di quanta between McAfee and Belize authorities don end.

Early on Sunday morning, Authorities find out say Mr Faull don die, im housekeeper see e dead body with plenti blood. Police wey dem call to di scene find one single 9mm shell nearby. Dey tok say one mobile phone and laptop dey miss but no visible signs of forced entry.

Di head of di police Gang Suppression Unit tell one local newspaper say e officers bin want to speak to McAfee as part of di investigation, but wen dey call e house, e be like e no dey around.

One article wey Wired magazine post di following day reveal why.

McAfee tell di publication say e bin see di officers dey come and e come hide hide for di sand of e property, e use cardboard box take cover e head.

E say im caretaker bin tell am of Mr Faull murder, and now e dey fear for im own life.

"Di first thing wey come to my mind na, 'Oh, my Lord. Di goment don finally try to get rid of me,' e tok.

"Di goment dey do dis from time to time.

"I don for certain be huge thorn for dia side, and dem don simply get di wrong white man.

"Seriously, dis na wetin go through my mind. My friends try calm me down, and later tok say dis dey strange. At dat time I no think so."

McAfee agree say im and Mr Faull no dey agree with each oda, but say dem no hate each oda and e no suspect say na im be di person wey fed two of Emshwiller dogs poisoned tortilla.

"Di entire five years I dey there, I fit tok say na maybe 15 words I say to am," e tok.

"E no like my dogs and di past two occasions I don see am dey waka for di beach e complain . But na same with everybody.

"We no get any current argument. Yeah, e no dey happy with my dogs. Maybe as I dey begin to think now, maybe e be di one wey poison dem. At di time I certainly no believe dat."

Infact, as ABC News later reveal, Mr Faull bin don file one complaint to Mayor Guerrero about McAfee di month before.

E tok say McAfee dog attack one tourist; dat im security guards dey "terrified" oda residents by walking around with shotguns and shining lights in dia eyes, and dat taxis and oda traffic dey arrive for e property "at all hours", dey cause disturbance.

"I no find dat out until weeks afta I come back to di States," McAfee tok wen dem question am about dis.

"Belize no dey like America where you file complaint and then di police come out and chase things out. You file complaint and e go dey inside drawer."

Hiding out

McAfee then begin dey run from di authorities, e say e dey fear say dem fit "silence" am if dey catch am and thrown am for jail.

Di tori make headlines worldwide quickly because e dey post updates to one blog and dey give frequent interviews.

E say dis actions dey design to make sure say dem no make am disappear if dey catch am .

"I disguise mysef as one ragged salesman," e tok.

"All e take na some dirty clothes and not bathing for few days and not combing my hair.

"You know, pipo see my photograph everywhere because all of di police and army get am for dat month and a half wey I dey underground. I just make sure say I look different than dat."

Concerning question about di affair, Dean Barrow, Belize prime minister, make am dey clear say McAfee no be di official murder suspect, and dem only classify am instead as a "person of interest".

"I no want to dey unkind to di gentleman, but I believe e dey very paranoid, even bonkers," di politician added.

During dis time McAfee continue to see Emshwiller.

"Wen e still dey run from di authorities, I go for lunches with am and then e go call and say: 'Come to dis place, or go there,' she tok.

"How to come, wen to come. Not to go out, or stay home, or go to for different location. E go tell me dat so dat nobody go get me."

She add say she regret say she no go with am wen e finally decide to escape di kontri.

Di next major development come on 3 December wen one reporter and photographer from Vice magazine reveal say dem dey document McAfee life on di run.

Dis whole story end up to be frustrating twist for McAfee as dey reveal say e cross di border to Guatemala - one fact reveal by one photo wey staff of Vice Website upload for dia headquarters, and fail to wipe dis location data.

"I bin go out of my way to arrange di escape and I dey breath easily and dey look forward to few days of relaxation," McAfee tok.

"We immediately gatz to go on di run again because we dey Guatemala illegally at dis point. But no be anybody fault. Na just di fault of di moment."

Few days later dem arrest McAfee. Tok-tok first spread say dem go send am back to Belize, but one week later dem allow am to fly to Miami as free man.

"Afta everything dey over I ask mysef, 'Good Lord, I must don dey so afraid,'" e tok.

"But I really no fit remember. I remember just trying to solve di problems wey happen as dem happen."

Hero and di bad guy

McAfee bin offer $25,000 bounty for information wey relate to di death of Mr Faull, but e say any attempt to contact di victim family no dey successful.

Di family bin call di reward "hollow gesture" and suggest sat if McAfee really want to help e for meet with di Belize police.

One spokesman for di kontri goment tok say authorities still want to speak to McAfee.

"Mr McAfee claims and e behaviour have det extreme," e tell BBC.

"Di investigation dey go on and McAfee remain person of interest. If McAfee go respond to questioning, e go make a difference to di progress of di investigation - but dis na currently out of di hands of di goment of Belize."

So long as di crime remain without finding di killer, e dey hard for pipo not to suspect McAfee. But e tok say e can live with dat.

"Someone go always dey wey like you and someone wey dislikes you," e tok.

"Someone wey thinks say you be hero and some wey think say you be wicked person. You know I just do what I fit do for situations like dis to continue to state say I dey totally innocent."

Dat no mean say e dey try to forget e time for Belize.

In addition to di graphic novel, e dey work with one Canadian firm to make both documentary and movie about im time there.

E add say George Jung - di imprisoned cocaine drugs lord wey Johnny Depp act as for di film Blow - na e pick to write e biography.

While those projects dey come up, McAfee return to Silicon Valley, announcing di forthcoming launch of one $100 gadget wey e promise say fit make you invisible for di internet.

"If you no fit see am, you no fit hack am, you not fit look am, you no fit spy on anything wey dey happen inside sm," e explain.

E say di D-Central units go fit into di pockets of pipo and allow dia phones, tablets and PCs to communicate with oda owners' devices within three-block radius.

E add say dey can also connect to di net anonymously (without identify) through one node - one separate piece of equipment wey dey attached to di network - either directly or with dia encrypted data relayed through oda D-Central boxes.

Each go frequently change dia network identifier - one long number wey devices dey use as ID - making dem hard to track, e explain.

E suggest say e go appeal to college students wey want to copy music anonymously and to businesses wey want to prevent di stealing of corporate secrets.

E also dey aware say sake of Edward Snowden leaks about surveillance techniques wey US and UK goments dey use, part of di appeal go dey hinder dia effort.

"You know from dia own paranoia and desire to stay in power, dem dey watch everything dey fit" e tok.

Dis tech, e go work? E go really frustrate di authorities once again?

For dis point, like so much of John McAfee life, e dey impossible to dey sure of all di facts and e dey ultimately up to you weda you believe e word.