Carl Wade, terminally ill California inmate, dies hours before release from Vacaville prison

VACAVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- A convicted killer has died in a California prison hours before he was to be freed to spend his final days with his family.

Carl Wade was recommended for compassionate release under a state law for inmates whose death is imminent and who post no danger to the public. He was terminally ill with heart and lung diseases.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a Lake County judge blocked the 66-year-old's release, but an appeals court overruled the judge on May 17.

The court ordered Wade's prompt release to live with his family in Chico. The ruling became final last week but Wade died Thursday in the Vacaville prison.

He had been serving a 32-years-to-life sentence for fatally shooting a man in Lake County in June 1986.