10 Most Famous San Quentin Inmates and Their Stories

Published July 17, 2023

San Quentin Prison is one of the most renowned correctional facilities in the United States. If you don’t know where is San Quentin, it is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, it has housed numerous notorious inmates who have captured the public’s attention. San Quentin has seen its fair share of infamous prisoners, from high-profile criminals to individuals involved in significant historical events.

San Quentin is home to California’s death row and gas chamber. With an estimated worth exceeding $100 million, it has gained a reputation as one of the West Coast’s most esteemed and feared correctional facilities. Let’s look into the stories of the most famous San Quentin inmates who have resided within the walls of this formidable prison.

10 Most Famous San Quentin Inmates and Their Stories

San Quentin Prison has garnered significant attention and notoriety due to its inmates, who possess notable and sometimes controversial reputations. Within its walls reside ten San Quentin famous inmates who have become household names across the United States.

1. Harvey Murray Glatman

Harvey Glatman, an American serial killer, left a haunting mark on the late 1950s. Born on December 10, 1927, Glatman exhibited troubling signs from an early age. He operated under various aliases, including George Williams. Posing as a professional photographer, Glatman enticed his victims with the promise of a modeling career.

In January 1957, Glatman embarked on a spree of terror. His modus operandi involved sexually assaulting, restraining with ropes, taking photos, and murdering his victims. Three innocent lives fell victim to his sadistic acts. However, Glatman’s crimes came to a halt in October 1958 when he was caught red-handed, attempting to kidnap a young model. A vigilant patrolman intervened and foiled his sinister plan.

During his time in custody, Harvey Glatman confessed to all three murders he had committed, leaving no doubt about his guilt. His trial followed, resulting in a death sentence. On September 18, 1959, Glatman was punished in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison.

2. Mack Ray Edwards

Mack Ray Edwards, born on October 17, 1918, had a dark and sinister path that unfolded over several decades. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, serving as a combat engineer. Later, during the 1950s, Edwards found employment on freeway construction sites. Alongside his wife and two adopted children, he eventually settled in Los Angeles.

Between 1953 and 1956, he committed the unthinkable, sexually molesting and murdering three innocent children. Years later, in 1968 and 1969, Edwards continued his reign of terror, taking the lives of three more victims.

In 1970, Edwards collaborated with a 15-year-old male accomplice. Together, they forcibly entered the home of Edgar Cohen, where they kidnapped three sisters. Amidst the chaos, two of the girls managed to escape, prompting Edwards to release the remaining sister. Aware that his identity could be exposed by those who escaped, Edwards made the shocking decision to turn himself in at a San Fernando Valley police station on March 6, 1970.

Following his arrest, Edwards faced justice for his heinous crimes. He received a death sentence by gas chamber, leading to his transfer to San Quentin State Prison on June 11, 1970. Coincidentally, he occupied a cell adjacent to the infamous Charles Manson. However, on October 30, 1971, he died by hanging in his San Quentin prison cell.

3. Richard Trenton Chase

Chase was born on May 23, 1950. He had a reputation for starting fires, wetting the bed, and torturing animals when he was young. At the age of 21, Chase moved into his first apartment. He spent his time hunting and eating animals raw; he had no friends. After injecting himself with blood from a rabbit he slaughtered in 1976, he ended up in the hospital.

In his first murder, Chase fatally shot Ambrose Griffin in 1977. Terry Wallin, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, was his next target two weeks after the first crime. In 1978, Chase murdered Evelyn Miroth, 38, her son, 6, her nephew, 22 months old, and her friend. Chase sexually assaulted Wallin and Miroth and drank their blood. He also used the penis he severed from Miroth’s nephew as a straw. Then, he cut the boy’s body apart, ate some of the organs, and turned the rest into a smoothie.

In 1979, Chase faced trial for six counts of murder. The jury reached a verdict on May 8, 1979, finding Chase guilty of six counts of first-degree murder and sentencing him to death by execution in the gas chamber. Following his conviction, he was administered medication. Chase collected the drug, accumulating enough to take his own life. In December 1979, he was discovered deceased in his cell.

4. Scott Lee Peterson

Scott Lee Peterson was born on October 24, 1972. He grew up in a middle-class family and attended high school in San Diego. After graduating high school, Peterson attended California Polytechnic State University, where he studied agricultural business. During his time at college, he met Laci Rocha. The two began dating and eventually got married in 1997.

In 2002, tragedy struck when Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, disappeared. The case garnered widespread media attention. As the investigation unfolded, Peterson’s behavior came under scrutiny. He was uncooperative, provided inconsistent statements, and had an extramarital affair with Amber Frey.

On April 13, 2003, the remains of a fetus were washed ashore. Laci Peterson’s body was found in the same area a day later. The autopsy revealed that she had been murdered. Scott Peterson was arrested on April 18, 2003, and charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Laci and Conner Peterson, the unborn son. The trial began in 2004. In March 2005, Scott Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

5. Richard Allen Davis

Richard Allen Davis was born on June 2, 1954. Davis was frequently in trouble with the law, engaging in various offenses such as burglary, assault, and drug-related crimes. Davis would become most notorious for his involvement in a high-profile case. On October 1, 1993, in Petaluma, California, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped from her home during a slumber party.