Death-Row Inmate Convicted In Palm Springs Rape And Murder Dies

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A San Quentin inmate who was sentenced to death more than 20 years ago for the murder and sexual assault of a Palm Springs woman has died, prison officials announced.

Condemned inmate Royce Lyn Scott, 62, who had been on death row since 1997, died at an outside hospital at 6:18 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

His cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy; foul play is not suspected, according to the CDCR.

Scott was sentenced to death in Riverside County on September 17, 1997, for first-degree murder and sexual assault of 78-year-old Della Morris in her Palm Springs home. He also received enhancements for burglary, rape and sodomy special circumstance allegations.

Scott was admitted onto California’s death row on September 25, 1997.

According to prosecutors in the case, Morris lived with her brother, Webbie. On July 9, 1992, Webbie went to bed around 10 p.m., while his sister watched television in the living room.

When Webbie woke up the next morning around 8 a.m., he found his sister dead in her bedroom.

The coroner's office ruled the woman had been smothered and strangled, and DNA evidence collected at the crime scene was presented at trial to link Scott to the rape and murder.