From Sfgate · · 2m
California governors commute death sentences to life
California governor Gavin Newsom commutes death sentences of 500+ inmates to life without parole.
In brief
California governor Gavin Newsom commutes death sentences of 500+ inmates to life without parole. California governor Gavin Newsom commuted death sentences of 500+ inmates to life without parole. Originally reported by Sfgate.
Gavin Newsom's decision
California governor Gavin Newsom commuted death sentences of over 500 inmates to life without parole.
“I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us”
Newsom's reasoning
Newsom called the decision 'among the most difficult of my career' due to the pain it would cause some victims' families.
“the decision 'among the most difficult of my career' due to the pain he knew it would cause some families of victims”
California's death row history
California hasn’t executed a death row prisoner since 2006 and had the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere.
“California hasn’t executed a death row prisoner since 2006”
Celeste Carrington
Celeste Carrington, 64, was convicted of killing three people in 1991 after robbing shoe factories and medical offices.
“she was convicted of killing a janitor and a property manager and wounding a doctor while robbing the offices”
David Carpenter
David Carpenter, 96, killed eight people in the 1970s-1980s as the 'Trailside Killer' hiding along trails to wait for hikers.
“he killed his first person in 1979, when he began hiding along trails in Marin and Santa Cruz counties to wait for passing hikers”
Richard Allen Davis
Richard Allen Davis, 72, kidnapped 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1993 and buried her in a shallow grave off Highway 101.
“he was finally taken into custody, where he confessed and told detectives Polly was buried in a shallow grave off Highway 101 near Cloverdale”
Randy Kraft
Randy Kraft, 81, killed 16 people using coded lists and was known as the 'Scorecard Killer'.
“he was found guilty of 16 murders, but some believe those 60 names refer to more victims”
Joseph Naso
Joseph Naso, 92, killed at least four women in the Bay Area and is a person of interest in the Rochester alphabet murders.
“he was found guilty of killing at least four women, but it’s believed he killed at least 10”
Charles Ng
Charles Ng, 65, killed 11 people with Leonard Lake in the 1980s and is buried in a mass grave at Wilseyville.
“he was found guilty of 11 murders, but it’s believed there may be more victims”
Cary Stayner
Cary Stayner, 65, killed three tourists in 1999 after saving his brother from kidnapping in 1980.
“he killed three tourists in 1999, pretending he’d been called for a maintenance job at the Cedar Lodge”
Newsom's influence
Newsom cited conversations with Polly’s sisters as influential in his decision to grant clemency to all death row inmates.
“Newsom cited conversations with Polly’s two sisters as influential in his decision to grant clemency all of the state’s death row inmates”
Polly’s father opposes
Polly’s father Marc Klaas has come out against Newsom’s stance against the death penalty.
“Polly’s father, Marc Klaas, however, has come out against the governor’s stance against the death penalty”
California’s death row impact
The commutation affects over 500 inmates, including some of California’s most notorious serial killers.
“California has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere”
The essence
California governor Gavin Newsom commuted death sentences of 500+ inmates to life without parole.
