Ex-Teacher Convicted of Murder, Sexual Assault Dies in Los Angeles Jail

LOS ANGELES—A former Inglewood middle school teacher convicted of murdering a 21-year-old woman in Gardena in 2005 and sexually assaulting another woman in Los Angeles just under a year and a half later died in jail while awaiting sentencing. Charles A. Wright, 59, died in jail on Aug. 13, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His cause of death was listed as deferred, pending further tests. According to jail records, Wright was being housed at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles, awaiting a Sept. 10 sentencing hearing. Wright was facing a possible sentence of 50 years to life in prison. He was convicted last month of first-degree murder in connection with the April 26, 2005, strangulation of Pertina Epps, along with one count each of kidnapping for oral copulation and forced oral copulation involving a Sept. 17, 2006, attack on an 18-year-old woman, according to the District Attorney’s Office....