Francis Clifford Smith, believed to be America's oldest inmate and its longest-serving prisoner, has died aged 101 after spending more than 70 years behind bars. He died in his sleep on June 25 at 60 West, a secure Connecticut nursing facility caring for elderly people involved in the justice system.
Smith was just 25 when he was sentenced to death for the murder of night watchman Grover Hart, a 68-year-old married father. Hart was shot during an attempted robbery at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, Connecticut, on July 23, 1949. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder the following year.
Eight last meals and abandoned executions
Smith was given what was supposed to be his last meal an extraordinary eight times during his decades in custody. Each time his execution approached, it was called off. The doubts surrounding his conviction led to eight planned executions being abandoned, sometimes at the last moment.
The most dramatic intervention came from Major Leo Carroll, an officer who had interrogated Smith following his arrest. Carroll appeared before Connecticut's Board of Pardons and declared that he believed Smith was innocent. 'I'm not even sure he was present at the murder,' he said, according to the Boston Globe.
Another man arrested over the killing accepted a plea deal and gave evidence against him. But witnesses later recanted their statements and a prisoner serving time for another crime reportedly confessed to Hart's murder. Smith always insisted he hadn't killed Hart. 'I'm in here on no evidence at all,' he told the Boston Globe in 2023.
From death row to supervised release
Smith was spared the electric chair for the eighth and final time. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1954, four years after his conviction. More than seven decades in custody followed, although Smith had three brief periods of freedom.
In 1967, he escaped from prison and spent 12 days on the run before being recaptured. He was allowed home for Christmas Eve in 1974 and returned the following day. Smith was granted parole in 1975 but was sent back to prison around 10 months later after being arrested for petty larceny and possession of a weapon.
Further chances to return to the outside world reportedly followed, but Smith repeatedly rejected parole. He finally agreed to supervised release in 2020 and moved to 60 West, where he received specialist nursing and long-term care.
'The Birdman of Osborn'
'Essentially, he died of old age,' facility spokesman David Skoczulek told the BBC. 'He had very limited family involvement around his passing but we assured it was appropriate, met his wishes and was dignified.' Smith was subsequently cremated without a funeral.
He was reportedly living with dementia towards the end of his life, although Connecticut's Department of Correction didn't confirm the diagnosis. 'He was 101 and a half,' department spokesman Andrius Banevicius said. 'He did pretty well as far as longevity is concerned.'
Smith had become a familiar figure during his years at Osborn Correctional Institution. His habit of taking bread outside to feed the birds earned him the nickname 'The Birdman of Osborn'. 'He would stuff as much bread as he could in his clothing,' Banevicius said. Staff knew what he was doing but allowed the routine to continue. 'Everyone kind of turned a blind eye to it because they knew he was just feeding the birds,' Banevicius added.
Smith died still officially convicted of Hart's murder and still insisting he hadn't committed it.
