Spared execution eight times, oldest inmate in US dies at 101

Francis Clifford Smith was given his last meal eight times, but after each time he was spared execution he stayed in prison, becoming the longest-serving prisoner in the United States. Smith, who was convicted of first‑degree murder in 1950, maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.

Smith has been described by former correctional staff as the "Birdman of Osborn". In his early prison life he would carry bread hidden in his clothing to feed birds, a habit that earned him a quiet nickname among inmates and guards alike.

Over the decades, evidence raised questions about Smith’s guilt. Witnesses later recanted, and another inmate admitted the crime. A senior officer who interrogated Smith believed he was innocent, stating uncertainty about his presence at the murder scene.

Smith’s prison record includes a 1967 escape, an 1974 family visit, and a 1975 parole that ended after a month when he was arrested for petty larceny. He remained on parole in 2020 and was moved to a care home for elderly prisoners within the justice system.

He was one of the first prisoners to receive care under the MissionCare Health scheme, which focuses on medical needs of incarcerated people. Smith lived in the 60 West facility for his final years and passed away in his sleep in June. The facility noted that he had limited family involvement and died of old age, possibly with dementia.

Research shows that imprisonment can accelerate ageing, with inmates potentially experiencing health conditions eight or nine decades earlier than the general population. “A long period of incarceration can make a 60-year-old feel like a 90-year-old,” said one specialist.

Smith’s death brings attention to the growing elderly prison population and the urgent need for smart de‑carceration programs, such as compassionate release and elderly or medical parole, to address the health and safety challenges faced by aging inmates.