FLORENCE, Ariz. — A federal public defender tells 12 News an Arizona death row inmate has died from coronavirus complications.
Alfonso Salazar was housed at the state prison in Florence and had been hospitalized since April 21. He was 56 years old.
Salazar was sentenced to death in 1988 after a first degree murder conviction in Pima County.
According to court documents, Salazar, along with another man, murdered an 83-year-old woman who lived alone. Salazar and his co-defendant pryed metal security bars from a window and entered her home.
The victim died by beating and strangulation.
Arizona Department of Corrections officials have not responded to a request for comment.
Salazar is the first Arizona death row inmate to die from coronavirus complications.
On April 28, it was reported 64-year-old Joseph Assyd was the first Arizona prisoner to die from coronavirus complications.
One week ago, The Associated Press reported four death row prisoners in Florence had tested positive for the coronavirus and another five were showing symptoms.
Florence houses all Arizona death row inmates and has the highest number of coronavirus cases among Arizona state prisons.
One of the ill inmates told The Associated Press that he and the others are being isolated in a dirty, cockroach-infested building.
Corrections officials declined to comment, according to AP.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
