into how the prison system responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and what led to the deaths of 18 people at Donovan state prison in San Diego.
He died on Christmas Day, four months shy of his first parole hearing after more than 20 years in prison.
Earlie Paton was incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa when he tested positive for COVID-19 in December. His breathing grew shallow, so the prison sent him to a nearby hospital.
The 67-year-old’s condition only got worse over four days at UC San Diego Medical Center. He chose to withdraw from treatment and died the next day.