A physician with a yearslong relationship with the Georgia Department of Corrections has bought a 700-bed former prison for $50,000 — half its appraised value — and stands to make millions running it as a nursing home for old and sick parolees.

At least one competing business complains that the state gave Dr. Carlo Musso, who has conducted its executions, a sweetheart deal and did not give others a realistic shot at the property.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tried to contact Musso over several days at CorrectHealth, his prison and jail medical-care company, but he did not respond to messages. The Department of Corrections and State Board of Pardons and Paroles, which will decide who goes to the planned Bostick Nursing Center, declined requests for interviews and would only answer questions — though not all of them — via email.

The sale was completed on Thursday. But documents obtained by the AJC show the state began talking about the property with Musso exclusively at least three years ago, long before advertising it for sale.

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