Good things don't always come to those who wait: Last Tuesday, a California appeals court finalized its ruling that would have granted Carl Wade, a 66-year-old convicted killer, compassionate release. Wade, who was serving a 32-years-to-life sentence for a 1986 murder and suffering from heart and lung disease, was to spend his last days with his family. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a judge was set to issue a release order on Wednesday—and may have done so, though it never reached Wade, who died at 3:20am Thursday. (More compassionate release stories.)