Raymond D. Payne
Raymond Payne was an English teacher at Strong Vincent High School in Erie, and shortly before his death he wrote a letter to the Erie Times-News addressed to his former students. He was 83, had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other serious health problems, and used a wheelchair and mobile oxygen. He died on November 25, 2020, at the State Correctional Institution at Laurel Highlands near Somerset, after testing positive for COVID-19. The Somerset County Coroner's Office said he died of cardiorespiratory arrest due to pneumonia and COVID-19, and the state's reporting lists the manner of death as natural causes. His court-appointed appellate lawyer said he would discuss with the family whether to pursue a postmortem appeal.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. The Somerset County Coroner's Office attributed his death to cardiorespiratory arrest due to pneumonia and COVID-19, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections reported it as natural causes.
Reported by: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Somerset County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner).