Daniel Ruiz

Photograph of Daniel, obtained from KTVU FOX 2.

Daniel Ruiz passed away in San Quentin, California on July 11th, 2020. He was 61. 

Daniel tragically died from COVID-19 while incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, which was, as of October, the site of over half of all deaths of incarcerated people in California from COVID-19. Daniel had been approved for early release in April but was not released for unknown reasons. The delay proved lethal — Daniel became one of the horribly many to succumb to COVID-19 behind bars. Since his death, Daniel’s wife and three children have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

The family attorney, Michael Haddad, spoke on behalf of Daniel’s family, saying that “the tragedy of this is that this could have been avoided if people like Mr. Ruiz were simply treated like human beings.” Haddad added, “A lot of prison bureaucrats think these people are expendable." 

The claim Daniel’s family filed states, “His children and mother mourn his unnecessary loss and that they were not able to be with him in his final days.” May Daniel rest in peace and may his family find justice.

This memorial was written by MOL team member Laura Haight with information from reporting by Lisa Fernandez of KTVU FOX 2 and Aparna Komarla of The Davis Vanguard and a press release by The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.