# Newsom orders California’s most reviled killers off death row – 10 of the worst who could benefit

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/newsom-orders-californias-most-reviled-killers-off-death-row-10-of-the-worst-who-could-benefit/
- Published: 2026-11-07T13:17:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/us/newsom-orders-california-reviled-killers-off-death-row-10-worst-could-benefit
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Newsom ordered commutations for 548 people on California’s death row.
- The sentences would become life without parole, subject to legal approval.
- The article highlights cases involving child murders and serial killings.

## Summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the commutation of all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole. The move would end those sentences if approved, but California law requires state Supreme Court approval for inmates with numerous felony convictions; Newsom said he recognised the decision would hurt victims’ families.

The article names ten notorious prisoners who could benefit, including Richard Allen Davis, convicted of murdering 12-year-old Polly Klaas, and Cary Stayner, convicted of killing three people near Yosemite. It also describes serial killer Chester Turner, who received death sentences for killing 14 women, and Joseph Naso, sentenced for at least four murders. The article text supplied ends during its account of Christopher Cheary and does not include the full list.

## Coverage

- [Fox News: Newsom orders California’s most reviled killers off death row – 10 of the worst who could benefit](https://www.foxnews.com/us/newsom-orders-california-reviled-killers-off-death-row-10-worst-could-benefit)
- [Fox News: California prosecutors slam Newsom's death row commutations, accuse governor of putting 'politics over people'](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-prosecutors-slam-newsoms-death-row-commutations-accuse-governor-putting-politics-over-people)

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.