Coroner IDs 2 Inmates With Coronavirus: Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Two Riverside County jail inmates who died from apparent complications due to coronavirus have been identified by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

Salvador Garcia, 57, died Tuesday at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley 22 days after being transported to the hospital for "treatment for a pre-existing medical condition," according to the sheriff's department.

After being transported to the hospital on April 6, Garcia developed flu-like symptoms and a COVID-19 test was administered, according to the sheriff's department. On April 15, the test results showed he was positive for the virus.

Thirteen days later, he died at the hospital "from what appears to be complications from his pre-existing medical condition possibly exasperated by COVID-19," the sheriff's department reported. "An exact cause of death has not yet been determined."

Garcia was booked March 27 into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of domestic violence.

On Sunday, the sheriff's department announced that another man who had tested positive for the virus and was being held on bail at a county jail had died. According to Sgt. Mark Wallace, the inmate died "from what appeared to be complications related to COVID-19," but added that an exact cause of death had not yet been determined."

The sheriff's department had not previously reported any inmate deaths from COVID-19.

The inmate has been identified as 69-year-old Edward Clark, who was arrested June 28 on multiple felony charges, including arson and burglary.

Clark was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning when he first displayed flu-like symptoms on April 13 and was immediately tested for the virus before being transferred to another housing unit where he could be more closely monitored by medical staff, according to Wallace.

The following day, Clark's test came back positive.

On Monday, corrections officers became aware that Clark's symptoms had worsened and notified medical staff, according to Wallace.

"Medical staff assessed the inmate, determined the inmate required further treatment at a hospital, and the inmate was transported by ambulance to an area hospital," Wallace said.

Sheriff's officials said Clark died Sunday while hospitalized.

Clark was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Sheriff's officials said there were no signs of foul play, but that the death investigation was ongoing.

As of Wednesday, Riverside University Health System-Public Health reported 141 Riverside County jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

—City News Service contributed to this report.