DEC. 1980 – David Lee Moore, 28, from Alameda, was found hanging from the bars by his bed sheets in his condemned row cell. He was pronounced dead at that time, according to prison information officer Mike Madding.
DEC. 1980 – A shot was fired in the East Block yardside to break up a fracas between an officer and a con that he was trying to handcuff. The gunner noticed the disturbance and fired a warning shot to stop the altercation.
DEC. 1980 – The S.Q. News reports a decline in violence at the prison. Through September there were 27 assaults compared to 32 last year and 46 in 1978. So far, there has been one death in 1980, three in 1979 and four in 1978. Statewide, there have been 13 violent prison deaths this year and 16 in each of the past two years.
DEC. 1980 – The San Quentin Handicraft Shop advertises “best prices in the state” on items such as “fine quality leathercraft, sterling silver jewelry, costume jewelry, cups and ashtrays, candles and much, much more.” Located at the entrance to the prison, the shop is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
DEC. 1980 – The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the convictions of two San Quentin inmates for killing a prison guard in 1971. The guard was attacked July 21, 1971 in the prison hospital. The court said the jury considered evidence that was not introduced at the trial of the two men.
DEC. 1980 – The prison was placed on a general lockdown after a white inmate was found to have been stabbed by a black inmate. The victim was found in his west Block cell suffering from three stab wounds. The prison was on lockdown for two days, and was the prison’s first lockdown since May.
DEC. 1980 – The “fight card” for this weekend’s boxing matches in the prison’s Skyline Gym against fighters from Ft. Ord was announced. The card includes fights in 14 weight classes from the 125 lb. class up to heavyweights.
DEC. 1980 – A U.S. District Court judge has given Warden George Sumner and San Quentin officials one year to make needed physical changes on death row and north segregation. Prison officials must supply recreational and educational equipment and hobby programs for condemned inmates.
DEC. 1980 – The SQUIRES organization at San Quentin announced the results of their annual election. The SQUIRES organization at S.Q. had its inception in 1964. SQUIRES stands for San Quentin’s Utilization of Inmate’s Resources Experiences and Studies.
JAN. 1981 – San Quentin athletes and their personally invited guests enjoyed a grand buffet-style meal at the Annual Sports Award Banquet. Many presentations and awards were handed out during the event.
JAN. 1981 – Announcing the opening of San Quentin prison’s spring semester college classes through the College of Marin on Monday, Jan. 19. Classes are offered both during the day and the night as well, and participants must have either a high school diploma or GED.
JAN. 1981 – Arson is suspected as the cause of a Jan. 13 fire in a dumpster used to store scrap wood from the furniture factory.
FEB. 1981 – An inmate suffered two minor stab wounds after he was assaulted at the vocational dry cleaning plant. Meanwhile, a fistfight in A-Section between two cons was broken up after the gunman fired a warning shot.
FEB. 1981 – The death last Dec. at the prison of Richard Chase, dubbed the “Vampire Killer,” has been ruled a suicide. Chase, who reportedly drank the blood of some of his six victims, was found dead in his death row cell after overdosing on an antidepressant medication. Chase made several requests for blood while in prison.
FEB. 1981 – A San Quentin inmate who escaped last November while being taken out to a doctor’s appointment has been recaptured during a burglary in Los Angeles. Richard Thompson, 42, had escaped with the help of an armed accomplice, who has not been identified or caught.
FEB. 1981 – The annual Holiday Show held in the dining hall was headlined by singers Mary Wells and Will Porter.
