Longest-Serving U.S. Prisoner, Who Dodged Death Penalty 8 Times, Dies at 101

Francis Clifford Smith, a convicted murderer believed to be the longest-serving inmate in U.S. history, died on June 25 at the age of 101. Smith had been sentenced to death for the 1949 murder of night watchman Grover Hart but escaped execution eight times over his 76 years of incarceration.

Smith, who maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, died in his sleep at 60 West, a secured nursing facility in Connecticut for aging individuals within the justice system. He was believed to be the oldest inmate in the United States at the time of his death. According to a spokesperson for 60 West, his passing was attributed to old age, and he was cremated without a funeral.

He was 25 years old when he received his death sentence for the murder of Hart, a 68-year-old married father, during an attempted robbery on July 23, 1949. Smith's death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1954. Over the decades, multiple execution dates were set, only to be canceled.

Doubts about Smith's guilt and his persistent claims of innocence played a role in his repeated reprieves. In one notable instance before his eighth scheduled execution, the arresting officer reportedly appeared before the Board of Pardons to state his belief that Smith was not present at the murder scene. A key witness who had implicated Smith later recanted their testimony, and another inmate confessed to the crime. Further complicating the case, one witness's testimony was given in exchange for a plea deal.

Smith's time in prison was marked by several short periods of freedom, including a 12-day escape in 1967. He was granted parole in 1975 but returned to prison after 10 months due to a parole violation involving petty larceny with a weapon. He reportedly rejected further parole opportunities until 2020, when he agreed to move to the 60 West care facility.

“He did pretty well as far as longevity is concerned,” said Andrius Banevicius, public information officer for Connecticut’s Department of Correction, noting Smith was 101 and a half at the time of his death.