US oldest-serving inmate dies at 101 after spending more than seven decades behind bars
A Connecticut man who survived eight scheduled executions and spent more than 70 years in prison has died at the age of 101, closing one of the most extraordinary chapters in American criminal justice history.
Francis Clifford Smith, who was convicted of murder in 1950, passed away in June while living under supervised parole at a long-term care facility. By the time of his death, he was widely regarded as the longest-serving inmate in the United States.
Smith was 25 when he was sentenced to death for the killing of a night watchman at a yacht club in Connecticut. Although found guilty by a court, questions about the case persisted for decades, with former witnesses later withdrawing their testimony and others casting doubt on the evidence that secured his conviction.
His execution was postponed repeatedly, with authorities reportedly preparing him for death on eight separate occasions. The sentence was eventually reduced to life imprisonment in 1954, allowing him to avoid the electric chair.
Despite spending most of his adult life behind bars, Smith’s story remained unusual. He briefly escaped from prison in the 1960s, was later granted temporary leave on Christmas Eve in the 1970s, and even secured parole for a short period before being returned to custody following further legal troubles.
Those who interacted with him during his incarceration remembered him for his quiet routines rather than the crime that placed him in prison. Correctional officials said he became known for feeding birds around the prison grounds, a habit that earned him the nickname “The Birdman of Osborn.”
Smith’s death has also renewed attention on the growing number of elderly prisoners in the United States. Researchers note that America’s prison population is ageing rapidly, creating new challenges for correctional systems that were not designed to care for large numbers of elderly inmates with complex health needs.
In 2020, after decades behind bars, Smith was transferred to a specialised nursing facility under a supervised parole arrangement, where he received long-term medical care until his death.
Officials said he died peacefully in his sleep. He was later cremated in accordance with his wishes.
His case remains one of the most debated in Connecticut’s history, with supporters maintaining that doubts surrounding his conviction were never fully resolved, even as he spent the majority of his life in prison.
Source: BBC
About The Author
