Orange County DA Details 49 Death Row Cases as Newsom Seeks Clemency for 548 Inmates
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Nov 12
Orange County DA Details 49 Death Row Cases as Newsom Seeks Clemency for 548 Inmates
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 12
Summary
Forty-nine Orange County death row inmates were spotlighted by DA Todd Spitzer after Gavin Newsom moved to commute the sentences of all 548 condemned prisoners in California.
Spitzer’s office emphasized the severity of those cases, including 3 cop killers, serial murderer Randy Kraft—convicted in 16 killings and suspected in 51 more—and the “Yacht Killers,” who drowned an Arizona couple for money.
Victims’ families joined the pushback as prosecutors across California challenged the blanket clemency order, arguing it revives fears of future sentence reductions and possible release.
California’s Supreme Court must still review hundreds of cases before the commutations take effect, though the state has not executed a death row inmate in 20 years.
Newsom’s office says the inmates are not currently eligible under new parole-board guidelines, countering critics who warn the move could eventually open a path to freedom.