On Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 12:42 AM, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officers conducting routine inmate welfare checks inside the San Quentin State Prison (SQSP) discovered the subject inside his locked and secure cell unconscious and unresponsive.  He was immediately removed from the cell and provided with resuscitative medical aid by the prison staff in addition to paramedics, who had been summoned to the scene.  Despite these efforts the subject failed to respond to the provided treatment and was pronounced deceased on the scene.  The subject was housed in a two-person cell within the prison, which was occupied by the decedent and another cellmate.  The subject had readily apparent traumatic injuries present upon his body of unknown origin, which remain under investigation.

The decedent has been positively identified as:                                                                           

John Thomas Sullivan, a 66-year-old male previously from Roseville, CA.

 A forensic post mortem examination with toxicology testing is scheduled for later this week.  The cause and manner of death will be pending the conclusion of the investigations being completed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Division.  No further information will be released by the Coroner Division at this time, as this is an active and ongoing investigation.  Any further questions regarding the incident should be directed to the CDCR Investigative Services Unit at San Quentin State Prison.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and personnel of the Coroner Division offers our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Sullivan.

CONTACT

Roger G. Fielding

Chief Deputy Coroner

415-473-6043