A child killer who murdered his girlfriend's 15-month-old daughter after a sickening catalogue of abuse has become the ninth Death Row inmate in California to die from coronavirus.
John Beames, 67, died in hospital after contracting the virus in San Quentin jail.
Eight other Death Row inmates have reportedly died at the prison as a result of Covid-19, while four criminals in other parts of the jail have also died.
Beames was sentenced to death in 1995 following the little girl's death.
An autopsy revealed tragic Cassie McMains had suffered a fatal blow which nearly split her liver in two.
She bled to death as a result of the vicious attack.
Her body was discovered inside the spare tire well of a station wagon, the Visalia Times Delta reports.
During a harrowing murder trial in 1994, the court heard the victim had suffered a string of injuries in the weeks leading up to her death.
It is believed that more than 860 inmates at the prison currently have coronavirus, CBS reports.
Earlier this month California Governor Gavin Newsom released 8,000 prisoners in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
There are currently more than 700 Death Row inmates in California, but the state has put executions on hold.
In March last year Newsom ordered that the execution room at San Quentin was closed.
