THE MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING APD OFFICER GERALD KLINE NEARLY 36 YEARS AGO HAS DIED IN PRISON. THE D-A’S OFFICE SAYS JOEL LEE COMPTON DIED THURSDAY. HE WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING KLINE AS THE OFFICER WAS INVESTIGATING A REPORT OF A SUSPICIOUS PERSON LATE IN THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 24TH, 1983. COMPTON WAS ORIGINALLY SENTENCED TO DEATH, BUT WAS AMONG FIVE DEATH ROW INMATES WHO HAD THEIR SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE IN PRISON IN 1986 BY THEN GOVERNOR TONY ANAYA. NO CAUSE OF DEATH FOR COMPTON WAS RELEASED.
