An O.C. inmate died after testing positive for COVID-19

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 21, 2021) –A 37-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died this morning of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.

The inmate was booked into jail in August 2017 by the Fullerton Police Department on suspicion of homicide and attempted murder. The inmate tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020, and was transferred to a local hospital on January 6, 2021. He is the second Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, there are 61 COVID-19 positive inmates.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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