A second city inmate has died of the coronavirus, according to the Legal Aid Society.
Walter Ance, 63, had been held on Rikers Island without bail for over a year on charges of attempted murder, criminal contempt and witness tampering.
He allegedly stabbed his wife during an argument in their Ozone Park home in front of their son, according to court papers.
It’s unclear when he tested positive for COVID-19. The Legal Aid Society had lobbied the Queens District Attorney’s Office to release Ance, who they had argued was at high risk of contracting the virus. He suffered from diabetes and prostate issues, the statement said.
“The Queens County District Attorney’s Office refused to consent to his release,” said Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “Our continuing efforts were entirely ignored, and as a result, Mr. Ance died handcuffed to a bed…Regardless of the crimes our clients are alleged to have committed, no New Yorker who is seriously ill should face a death sentence at Rikers Island before a jury has even had a chance to judge their guilt or innocence.”
A 53-year-old Rikers inmate who tested positive for coronavirus died in Department of Correction custody earlier this month.
More than 1,500 city inmates have been released due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has spread rapidly in the crowded jails.
As of April 10, 304 inmates and 518 DOC staffers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Queens DA and the DOC didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
