Francis Clifford Smith, who was spared execution eight times, has died at 101, having been regarded as the longest-serving prisoner in the US. Convicted of murder in 1950 at the age of 25, Smith consistently maintained his innocence.
His conviction for the 1949 murder of Grover Hart, a night watchman, was later questioned after witnesses recanted statements and another inmate confessed to the crime. One interrogating officer also testified that he believed Smith was innocent.
Smith served over 70 years behind bars, with three brief periods of freedom, including an escape in 1967 and a 10-month parole stint in 1975. He rejected further parole attempts until 2020, when he was granted supervised parole and moved to a care home for elderly people within the justice system.
He was cared for under the MissionCare Health scheme, which focuses on providing care to incarcerated individuals. David Skoczulek, a spokesman for 60 West, the facility where Smith lived, confirmed he died in his sleep in June from old age and was cremated.
Researchers note that the number of people aged 55 and older in US prisons increased by nearly 400% between 1991 and 2021. The US Census Bureau forecasts that by 2030, at least one-third of the incarcerated population will be over 50 years old, highlighting an international issue of an ageing prison population.