Salinas Valley State Prison Officials in Soledad Investigating are the Death of an Inmate on October 23 as a Homicide

 

SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Oct. 23, 2025 death of an incarcerated person at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) as a homicide.

                          

At approximately 9:52 a.m., staff in a recreation yard observed incarcerated persons 56-year-old Todd J. Givens, 61-year-old Robert England, and 51-year-old Ray N. Waldron attacking another incarcerated person, 57-year-old Todd S. Morgan, with what appeared to be improvised weapons.

Staff issued clear verbal commands to immediately halt the attack. By the time responding personnel arrived, the aggressors had already stopped and staff swiftly began life-saving procedures on Morgan. He was pronounced deceased by prison medical staff at 10:04 a.m. No staff or other incarcerated people were injured.

Officers recovered 3 inmate-improvised weapons at the scene.

Givens, England, and Waldron were moved to restricted housing and movement has been limited in the area where the attack occurred. An investigation by SVSP’s Investigative Services Unit, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Monterey County Coroner continues. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Morgan’s official cause of death.

Morgan, 57, was most recently received from Santa Clara County on May 22, 2002. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, manufacturing; sale, or possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition by ex-felon, possession of a controlled substance, all as a third-striker.

Givens, 56, was most recently received from Tulare County on July 23, 2004. He was placed on condemned status for first-degree murder. While incarcerated, he was sentenced to two terms of life with the possibility of parole, for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by an incarcerated person and assault by a life incarcerated person, to be served concurrent with his death sentence.

England, 61, was most recently received from San Bernardino County on Oct. 4, 1993. He was sentenced to serve life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder for use of a firearm. On Jan. 14, 1998, while in prison he was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for assault by life inmate/victim, not killed, in-prison offense. On Feb. 10, 1999, while in prison he was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for two counts of battery on non-prisoner, possession/manufacture of deadly weapon by prisoner, in-prison offense, and resisting/deterring an officer with threat/violence, all as a third-striker.  

Waldron, 51, was most recently received from San Diego County on Feb. 1, 2005. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, first degree attempted murder, assault with a firearm, and possession of firearm by ex-felon, all as a third-striker with enhancements for intentional discharge of firearm causing great bodily injury/death and street gang act in commission of a serious felony, first degree attempted murder, two counts of inflict great bodily injury. On July 24, 2024, he was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for in-prison offense attempted first-degree murder, in-prison offense as a third striker.

SVSP opened in May 1996 in Monterey County. The institution provides long-term housing for approximately 2,400 minimum- and maximum-custody incarcerated individuals and employs about 1,500 staff.