Scott Thomas Erskine

Johnny Avila Jr., a 62-year-old man, was held at San Quentin State Prison in California. He died on July 26, 2020, at an outside hospital, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said he appeared to have died from complications related to COVID-19. The department said the coroner would determine the exact cause of death, and the manner of death was still listed as pending. His death came during a COVID-19 outbreak at the prison.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said the death appeared to result from complications of COVID-19, with the coroner to determine the exact cause.

Reported by: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (the agency that held him). The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held him.

News reports (14)

• Three More San Quentin Inmates Die Amid Coronavirus Outbreak KQED, July 3, 2020
• Condemned Inmates Scott Erskine and Manuel Alvarez Die - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 3, 2020
• Death row inmate Scott Erskine, who murdered two boys in San Diego, dies of COVID-19 Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2020
• Condemned Inmate Dewayne Carey Dies - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 4, 2020
• Two new deaths in San Quentin prison brings total to nine MS NOW, July 13, 2020
• Condemned Inmate Jeffrey Hawkins Dies - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 15, 2020
• Condemned Inmate Troy Ashmus Dies - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 20, 2020
• Condemned Inmate John Beames Dies - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 22, 2020
• 16th San Quentin inmate dies of COVID-19 KTVU, July 24, 2020
• Condemned Inmate Johnny Avila Jr. Dies - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR (.gov), July 26, 2020
• Man on death row for Fresno County murders dies from apparent COVID-19 complications ABC30 Fresno, July 27, 2020
• Coronavirus: These killers died on San Quentin’s Death Row The Mercury News, July 29, 2020
• By the numbers: A look at who has died of coronavirus in California prisons KTVU, August 5, 2020
• Coronavirus Prison Fatalities Surpass Two Decades of Executions; COVID-19 Has Killed More California Death Row Prisoners Than the State Has Executed in 27 Years Death Penalty Information Center, August 31, 2020