A man newly arrived at San Quentin State Prison after being convicted of murder and drunken driving in the death of a 9-year-old Novato girl was fatally stabbed by another inmate, authorities said Tuesday.

Edward John Schaefer, 44, of Novato was stabbed in the chest and neck at about 10:35 a.m. Monday in the prison's reception center yard and died that night, said Lt. Sam Robinson, prison spokesman.

The suspect is Frank Anthony Souza, 31, a convicted murderer from San Jose, Robinson said. Souza had fashioned a homemade weapon, authorities said.

Schaefer was killed just 10 days after he arrived at San Quentin. The prison's reception center is where many convicted offenders are processed before they are transferred to other prisons.

Schaefer, who had nine previous convictions for driving under the influence, was sentenced July 13 to 24 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for killing Melody Osheroff and critically wounding her father, Aaron Osheroff, in May 2009.

The father and daughter were in a crosswalk on San Marin Drive at San Carlos Way in Novato when Schaefer sped his motorcycle in between a car that had stopped for the two and a parked vehicle. Authorities said his blood-alcohol level was between 0.11 and 0.16 percent, more than the 0.08 percent that constitutes drunken driving.

Schaefer struck Melody and her father at more than 60 mph, said prosecutor Geoff Iida.

Aaron Osheroff lost his right leg as a result of the crash. He now walks with a temporary prosthetic leg, his wife and Melody's mother, Kimberly Osheroff, said Tuesday.

She said of Schaefer's slaying, "I'm not one of those people who rejoice in such things. I don't think people being slain by another person is justified."

She added, "I wanted him to be there long enough to think about what he had done."

Judge Terrence Boren of Marin County Superior Court sentenced Schaefer a day after Melody would have turned 11.

Schaefer had previously served a four-year state sentence for corporal injury to a spouse. Records show that he also served several terms of six months or less in Marin County Jail for his DUI convictions.

Souza was convicted in Santa Clara County Superior Court of first-degree murder for fatally strangling and beating John Carl Riggins, 59, who was homeless, in an alley near Lincoln Avenue in San Jose in August 2007. The two men had gotten into a confrontation after Souza stole Riggins' mountain bike, authorities said.

Souza arrived at San Quentin in January to begin serving a sentence of 60 years to life, Robinson said. Souza had served three stints in prison for grand theft, receiving stolen property and threatening a prosecution witness with force and violence.

His appearance is distinctive: Near his eyes are tattoos of a club, heart, diamond and spade, and his forehead is emblazoned with another tattoo that reads, "White Power." His neck is also covered in tattoos.

Schaefer's slaying is under investigation by prison officials and the Marin County district attorney's office.