DHS man serving life sentence accused of murdering fellow inmate

A Desert Hot Springs man serving a 17-year to life sentence for attempting to kill his father by brutally beating him and setting his mobile home on fire is being investigated Wednesday for allegedly killing a fellow inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Miguel A. Espino, 31, allegedly attacked another inmate at the Soledad Jail in Monterey County around 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

Correctional officers “quickly stopped” the attack and “secured an inmate-made weapon at the scene,” the agency said. The target of the attack, 38-year-old Michael Spengler, was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m. Monday.