Skip to main content
Street Roots Donate
Portland, Oregon's award-winning weekly street newspaper
For those who can't afford free speech
Twitter Facebook RSS Vimeo Instagram
▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact
  • Job Openings
  • Donate
  • About
  • future home
  • Vendors
  • Rose City Resource
  • Advocacy
  • Support
News
  • News
  • Housing
  • Environment
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Orange Fence Project
  • Podcasts
  • Vendor Profiles
  • Archives
(Photos: Oregon Department of Corrections)

These are the 42 Oregon state prisoners who have died from COVID-19

Street Roots
With more than 3,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus among its prisoners, the Oregon Department of Corrections has faced criticism for its handling of the pandemic
by Chris May and Emily Green | 10 Mar 2021

Chronicled in this special report are the 42 prisoners who, as of press time, had died of COVID-19 while serving time in Oregon state prisons. All were men. Some, serving long sentences, would have died in prison whether they contracted the virus or not. But many would have been released with years of life left to live; 16 were to be released between 2020 and 2023.

Their ages range from 32 to 89, and their deaths occurred within institutions funded by taxpayer dollars, under the oversight of our elected leaders.

THE EXPENDABLE

IN THIS SPECIAL REPORT:

• Naming the deceased
• All 42 prisoners who died
• Profile: Brian McCarvill, 68
• Profile: Bernardino Garcia, 32
• Profile: James Hargrave, 70
• Profile: Phyll Mendacino, 65
• A prisoner’s perspective
• Editorial: The prison system cannot be fixed
• More on COVID-19 in prisons

The Oregon Department of Corrections’ handling of the pandemic has drawn ire from prisoners, their families and justice reform advocates alike.

As of March 5, there had been 3,549 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the state’s 12,586 prisoners, with the virus reaching all but one of the state’s 15 correctional facilities.

As cases escalated among state prisons, Gov. Kate Brown granted early releases in piecemeal fashion.

Oregon DOC estimated in April that it would need to release 5,800 people to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Two months later, Brown issued the first round of commuted sentences, releasing 57 prisoners. In July, legislators presented Brown with a plan to release 2,000 prisoners safely, but she declined. In September, she released 66 more.

Meanwhile, reports of prison staffers and occupants refusing to wear masks while making little effort to protect vulnerable prisoners have been reported by various media outlets around the state, and at least two class-action lawsuits have been filed against the Oregon DOC. One successfully argued for a judicial order to immediately provide vaccines to all prisoners in state custody. Since the Feb. 3 ruling, 9,156 prisoners have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 1,256 have received their second dose, said Oregon DOC spokesperson Jennifer Black.

Another lawsuit filed against the department includes allegations from more than 90 prisoners who describe how the virus spread like wildfire through prison facilities, and eventually their bodies; five prisoners describe learning of and living with the deaths of those they knew.

When asked to provide information about deceased prisoners’ next of kin, Oregon DOC refused. Doing so, the agency said, would “interfere with the rehabilitation of a person in custody of the department or substantially prejudice or prevent the carrying out of the functions of the department.”

The department also declined to contact any next of kin on behalf of Street Roots after being provided with a short list of prisoners we were interested in profiling for this package.

Without any leads from the department, profiling prisoners was a challenge. Many had been incarcerated for years with few connections or paper trails outside prison walls.

Some of the families Street Roots contacted were reluctant to have their names published, but many expressed a desire to pay tribute to their lost loved ones. Each family had different relationships and experiences with the criminal justice system and news media, but they all shared a similar belief: These deaths could have been avoided.

About half of the deceased were serving time for sex offenses, and 10 were serving time for murder. Due to the length of sentences associated with those crimes, many of these prisoners were older, some of their crimes stemming from events a half-century ago.

But others were serving shorter sentences for crimes such as identity theft, parole violations, drug possession and robbery.

We decided against listing the deceased’s convictions — which are easily accessible public records — alongside their names. This is not because Street Roots is attempting to minimize the severity of their crimes, which are serious. It is because our intention in naming these prisoners is to illuminate the humanity that exists behind the anonymous COVID-19 death reports released by the state.

This listing serves as the closest thing to an obituary or memorial the vast majority of deceased named in these pages will be bestowed, and to label them with their crimes and little else would only serve to dehumanize them further and minimize their deaths.

Naming the deceased

Oregon Department of Corrections has not released the names of prisoners who died from COVID-19, citing health care privacy laws. Street Roots determined who they were by cross-referencing news releases from the department about COVID-19 deaths and other reports with lists of prisoner deaths obtained through public records requests. Records we received from the department were automated and contained numerous errors, including some inaccurate death dates and inaccurate release dates. We worked with the department to correct these errors to ensure the accuracy of this report.

Some Indigenous communities practice a year of no photos following a person’s death. Street Roots took steps to reach family of known Indigenous people in this report regarding the publication of their loved one’s photograph.

The prisoners who died from COVID-19

The deceased are listed in the order of their death.

1%20Greg%20Chavez.jpg?itok=NV_DL-RN

Greg Chavez, 53

Died May 20, 2020

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: Life, no parole date set


2%20Louis%20Jackson.jpg?itok=vg8cIZAl

Louis Jackson, 63

Died Aug. 12, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: April 8, 2026


3%20Dennis%20Howes.jpg?itok=rPn3iKhX

Dennis Howes, 66

Died Aug. 20, 2020

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: June 10, 2025


4%20Warren%20Hill.jpg?itok=iCzWdJYg

Warren Hill, 73

Died Aug. 26, 2020

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set


5%20David%20Windham.jpg?itok=UeEoQFCe

David Windham, 54

Died Aug. 26, 2020

Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution

Release date: May 5, 2045


6%20Barry%20Larsen.jpg?itok=9WrRhepC

Barry Larsen, 64

Died Sept. 6, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Dec. 16, 2021 (tentative parole)


7%20Lavern%20Carlton.jpg?itok=7BoiuDaR

Lavern Carlton, 82

Died Sept. 22, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: May 14, 2023


8%20Richard%20Torres.jpg?itok=fbQ3p2Wf

Richard Torres, 69

Died Sept. 25, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: March 15, 2030


9%20Brian%20McCarvill.jpg?itok=ZB41DD40

Brian McCarvill, 68

Died Sept. 27, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: July 6, 2026

PROFILE: Brian McCarvill was an anarchist who fought for prison abolition

 

10%20James%20Kempf.jpg?itok=r75yPSH5

James Kempf, 81

Died Oct. 3, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: April 19, 2027


11%20Timothy%20McElroy.jpg?itok=se32lyHa

Timothy McElroy, 62

Died Oct. 4, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Aug. 20, 2035


12%20Donald%20Bennett.jpg?itok=vXN5qk98

Donald Bennett, 71

Died Oct. 5, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Feb. 14, 2023


13%20Gilberto%20Pedroso.jpg?itok=U5izgyZ

Gilberto Pedroso, 77

Died Oct. 6, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set


14%20Wayne%20Denson.jpg?itok=93bpSR67

Wayne Denson, 74

Died Oct. 13, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Nov. 12, 2022

Wayne Denson’s family didn’t know he had been transferred to a hospital until they got a call from a nurse in Boise who told them Denson was on a ventilator and wouldn’t live much longer.
“I know he wanted to live,” said Denson’s brother, who wished to remain anonymous. “He had rheumatoid arthritis and some other conditions, but the prison’s policy is what killed him. The way they’re handling things, I think it’s criminal.”


15%20Michael%20Abeln.jpg?itok=Y8SEtjfn

Michael Abeln, 57

Died Oct. 17, 2020

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: Dec. 12, 2023


A.%20Gregory%20Burns.jpg?itok=kbnntc1u

Gregory Burns, 53

Died Oct. 19, 2020

Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution

Release date: Feb. 23, 2023


16%20Nicholas%20Zangari.jpg?itok=mAfZnwb

Nicholas Zangari, 51

Died Nov. 23, 2020

Oregon State Correctional Institution

Release date: Oct. 18, 2021


B.%20James%20Moore.jpg?itok=_vHcCZBa

James Moore, 81

Died Nov. 30, 2020

Oregon State Correctional Institution

Release date:  July 4, 2024


17%20Joseph%20Jones.jpg?itok=joeqPoe1

Joseph Jones, 76

Died Dec. 10, 2020

Deer Ridge Correctional Institution

Release date: Dec. 13, 2020


18%20Roger%20McPherson.jpg?itok=RxfhmEij

Roger McPherson, 59

Died Dec. 18, 2020

Deer Ridge Correctional Institution

Release date: June 8, 2022


19%20Andrew%20Boyer.jpg?itok=wwWBY2x7

Andrew Boyer, 59

Died Dec. 27, 2020

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: Aug. 31, 2048


20%20Bernardino%20Garcia.jpg?itok=WLoNSu

Bernardino Garcia, 32  

Died Dec. 30, 2020

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: Nov. 7, 2022

PROFILE: Bernardino Garcia was committed to preserving his Indigenous culture


21%20Paul%20Villines.jpg?itok=NGlyYcj-

Paul Villines, 56

Died Jan. 2, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Nov. 15, 2030


22%20Peter%20Bara.jpg?itok=9RgKr5XZ

Peter Bara, 47

Died Jan. 3, 2021

Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Release date: July 17, 2021


23%20Antonio%20Arevalo.jpg?itok=ZovslaBy

Antonio Arevalo, 89

Died Jan. 6, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Jan. 11, 2060


24%20John%20Fuller.jpg?itok=slyyXUg7

John Fuller, 71

Died Jan. 7, 2021

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: Life, no parole date set


25%20Cecil%20Norton.jpg?itok=lkIz-bVa

Cecil Norton, 72

Died Jan. 10, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set


26%20Rennie%20Dearborn.jpg?itok=5ykTzzdZ

Rennie Dearborn, 69

Died Jan. 14, 2021

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: March 20, 2021


28%20Austin%20Coleman.jpg?itok=XEpC57p5

Austin Coleman, 57

Died Jan. 16, 2021

Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Release date: Oct. 6, 2021


29%20Douglas%20Turnbow.jpg?itok=LsAuB5jJ

Douglas Turnbow, 76

Died Jan. 16, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Oct. 2, 2081


30%20Lloyd%20Ward.jpg?itok=90N8pbPS

Lloyd Ward, 76

Died Jan. 16, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Jan. 2, 2023


32%20Carlyle%20Sands.jpg?itok=cJlFt7ae

Carlyle Sands, 59

Died Jan. 17, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: July 13, 2025


31%20John%20Freeman.jpg?itok=Sj3C3NBc

John Freeman, 64

Died Jan. 18, 2021

Snake River Correctional Institution

Release date: April 8, 2042


33%20James%20Hargrave.jpg?itok=1IfG5LfO

James Hargrave, 70

Died Jan. 20, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set

PROFILE: James Hargrave had a big heart


34%20Jessie%20Ballew.jpg?itok=r0fIHGvC

Jessie Ballew, 71

Died Jan. 21, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Dec. 14, 2030


35%20Donald%20Easley.jpg?itok=P2WFKSOL

Donald Easley, 71

Died Jan. 21, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set


36%20Lee%20Russell.jpg?itok=5_KMGpvL

Russell Lee, 57

Died Jan. 21, 2021

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: June 1, 2021


37%20Juan%20Tristan.jpg?itok=2Kdk8YDe

Juan Tristan, 58

Died Jan. 22, 2021

Oregon State Penitentiary

Release date: Aug. 14, 2025


38%20James%20Owens.jpg?itok=ZUkWzvFU

James Owens, 78

Died Jan. 24, 2021

Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Release date: July 19, 2026


39%20Donald%20Hilburn.jpg?itok=3XSYWbZn

Donald Hilburn, 58

Died Jan. 26, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Aug. 24, 2029


40%20Phyll%20Mendacino.jpg?itok=lIDQohZY

Phyll Mendacino, 65  

Died Jan. 26, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Sept. 2, 2023 (tentative parole)

PROFILE: Phyll Mendacino advocated for Indigenous rights behind bars


41%20William%20Vance.jpg?itok=61_rj7a3

William Vance, 72

Died Jan. 29, 2021

Two Rivers Correctional Institution

Release date: Life, no parole date set


Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
© 2021 Street Roots. All rights reserved.  | To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org or call 503-228-5657, ext. 404.
Tags: 
COVID-19 in Prisons, Prison and Incarceration
  • Print

More like this

  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Brian McCarvill was an anarchist who fought for prison abolition
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Bernardino Garcia was committed to preserving his Indigenous culture
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: James Hargrave had a big heart
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Phyll Mendacino advocated for Indigenous rights behind bars
  • Why The Marshall Project is tracking COVID-19 in America’s prisons

More on COVID-19 in prisons

  • Questions remain as COVID-19 transmission increases in Oregon prisons
  • These are the 42 Oregon state prisoners who have died from COVID-19
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Phyll Mendacino advocated for Indigenous rights behind bars
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: James Hargrave had a big heart
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Bernardino Garcia was committed to preserving his Indigenous culture
  • COVID-19 in Oregon’s prisons: Brian McCarvill was an anarchist who fought for prison abolition
  • Opinion | A prisoner’s perspective: This moment is about more than COVID-19
  • Why The Marshall Project is tracking COVID-19 in America’s prisons
  • Editorial | The prison system cannot be fixed
  • Opinion | COVID-19: My experience in prison

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • next »

1 of 2

▼
Open menu
▲
Close menu
  • © 2021 Street Roots. All rights reserved. To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org.
  • Read Street Roots' commenting policy
  • Support Street Roots
  • Like what you're reading? Street Roots is made possible by readers like you! Your support fuels our in-depth reporting, and each week brings you original news you won't find anywhere else. Thank you for your support!

  • DONATE