Death Row inmate John Thomson, 64, was found dead in his cell at California Medical Facility (CMF) on April 29, as per state officials. Serving a sentence for first-degree murder, among other charges, Thomson was discovered unresponsive in the facility's hospice unit and was pronounced dead at 5:52 p.m. by the attending medical personnel. Details surrounding the cause of Thomson's death will be clarified by the Solano County Coroner’s Office.

Thomson, whose sentence began on April 4, 2014, following a conviction in San Bernardino County, had been to maintain his innocence consistently. He faced additional time for carjacking and attempted carjacking, the convictions including enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon and being a third striker. As of now, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports a total of 639 inmates on Death Row.

Thomson's passing is a somber reminder of the complex narratives woven into the capital punishment system, which has been the subject of fierce debate in California. The state's history with the death penalty has been tumultuous, with moratoriums and resumptions punctuating its use over the years. Information on the state's relationship with capital punishment can be found on the CDCR's official website.