The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has confirmed that condemned person Richard J. Hirschfield died yesterday while in hospice care at the California Medical Facility (CMF). According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation release, Hirschfield was 75 years old at the time of his death, which was pronounced at 4:50 a.m. by a registered nurse, citing the initial cause as natural.
Hirschfield's demise brings to a close another chapter in California's complex relationship with capital punishment. He was originally sentenced by Sacramento County on Jan. 25, 2013, and commenced to serve his time on San Quentin’s death row on Feb. 1 of the same year.
As documented in the records, his conduction of crimes included two counts of first-degree murder and using a firearm, with an additional enhancement for using a deadly weapon. His status as a "third striker" resulted in the consecutive serving of his sentences.
