Earlie Paton
Earlie Paton was held at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, San Diego County, California. His siblings, Byron Porter and Candice Fleming, said the family had been looking forward to his possible release, and his sister said he had a son and a family that cared about him and loved him. In December 2020 he tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken to a hospital, where he died on Christmas Day. His siblings say the family was not told how sick he was and learned of his death weeks later. The state said his next of kin was notified within 72 hours.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. He tested positive for COVID-19 and died at a hospital on Christmas Day; his siblings say the family was not told how sick he was, while the state says next of kin was notified within 72 hours.