Spared execution eight times, oldest inmate in US dies at 101
Summary
Francis Clifford Smith, who was convicted of murder in 1950 and denied execution eight times, died at age 101 as the longest-serving prisoner in the US. Despite maintaining his innocence and doubts about his guilt, he spent over 70 years in prison with brief periods of release and was eventually moved to a nursing facility under supervised parole.Key Facts
- Smith was convicted of first-degree murder in 1950 when he was 25 years old.
- He was spared execution eight times and served more than 70 years in prison.
- Smith always claimed he was innocent; some witnesses recanted and one inmate confessed to the crime.
- A police officer who interrogated Smith later expressed doubts about his guilt.
- Smith escaped prison once in 1967 but was caught after 12 days.
- He had brief releases in 1974, 1975, and under supervised parole starting in 2020.
- The US prison population is aging, with a large increase in inmates over 55.
- Experts advocate for compassionate release and medical parole to address the needs of elderly prisoners like Smith.
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