SAN FRANCISCO – The Los Angeles Times recently profiled the experiences of several individuals formerly housed on California’s death row—Bob Williams, Kevin Bernoudy, David Carpenter, and Cathy Sarinana—exploring how their lives have changed following historic policy shifts under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.
Bob Williams, now 49, spent more than half his life in isolation on San Quentin’s death row. At age 18, he raped and murdered 40-year-old Mary Breck in Kern County in 1994. Just a day earlier, he had broken into her home and stolen credit cards. He claimed he returned to give them back but instead strangled her. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Despite a traumatic childhood marked by time in juvenile hall and foster care, Williams told the Times that being sent to San Quentin was “the best thing that ever happened to me.” He entered prison determined to find God and forgiveness. On death row, he immersed himself in philosophy and poetry, drawing inspiration from works like Invictus…