The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials have announced that they are currently investigating the death of a 38-year-old condemned inmate. When another prisoner attacked the inmate on Monday morning, Salinas Valley State Prison received the transfer of the prisoner from Los Angeles County.
A CDCR news release stated that the violence erupted shortly after 10:30 a.m. when inmate Miguel A. Espino, 31, allegedly assaulted inmate Michael R. Spengler.
The staff swiftly intervened and promptly contacted medical assistance and 911, as stated in the release. Paramedics arrived in response and pronounced Spengler deceased at 11:08 a.m.
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Officials added that officers at the scene were able to recover at least one weapon that an inmate had made.
In August 2022, Spengler was transferred from L.A. County to SVSP to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first- and second-degree murder.
Espino recently transferred from Riverside County in February 2024. He is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for several charges, including attempted first-degree murder, inflicting great bodily injury, and the personal use of a dangerous or deadly weapon. Additionally, he was convicted of aggravated mayhem and arson of an inhabited structure, as well as a felony arson violation with special circumstances.
Pending the outcome of an investigation by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, the 31-year-old individual has been placed in restrictive housing following the attack.
Additionally informed is the Office of the Inspector General, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Spengler’s precise cause of death.
Fortunately, there were no other staff members or inmates who sustained any injuries during the incident.
Opened in 1999, SVSP is home to over 3,300 prisoners of varying security levels, including minimum, medium, maximum, and high-security inmates.
