San Quentin Inmate Dies Of Apparent Coronavirus Complications

SAN QUENTIN, CA — San Quentin inmate John Beames, who had been on death row since 1995, died Tuesday at an outside hospital from what appears to be complications related to the coronavirus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Beames, 67, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1995 in Tulare County. His exact cause of death will be determined by the coroner.

Beames is the latest inmate at San Quentin whose death has been linked to COVID-19. Across California, 40 state prison inmates with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died, including 13 at San Quentin, according to the CDCR website tracking illnesses and deaths related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Out of 7,123 COVID-19 cases confirmed so far among state prison inmates, 2,092 have been at San Quentin, the state's largest prison outbreak. There are now 717 people on California's death row.

Also see:

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• Death Row Inmate Dies From Apparent Coronavirus Complications
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