Salinas Valley State Prison Officials in Soledad are Investigating the Death of an Inmate on August 19 as a Homicide

 

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the death of an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad on Monday, August 19 as a homicide. The incident happened at at 10:31 a.m. as 31-year-old inmate Miguel A. Espino allegedly attacked another inmate identified as 38-year-old Michael R. Spengler. Staff quickly stopped the incident and immediately called for medical assistance and 911.  Responding paramedics pronounced Spengler dead at 11:08 a.m.  No staff or additional inmates were injured. Espino has been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Officers recovered one inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Spengler’s official cause of death. Spengler was most recently moved from Los Angeles County on Aug. 9, 2022 to Salinas Valley State Prison to serve life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and second-degree murder, while Espino came from Riverside County on Feb. 8, 2024, to serve life with the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder, inflict great bodily injury, and personal use of dangerous or deadly weapon; aggravated mayhem; and arson of inhabited structure and felony arson violation with special circumstances.

SVSP opened in 1996 and houses more than 3,300 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security incarcerated persons. SVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,500 people.