After spending more than 70 years behind bars, America’s longest-serving prisoner, Francis Clifford Smith, died at the age of 101.
Smith was 25 years old when he was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Grover Hart, a night watchman at a yacht club in Connecticut.
He attempted to escape from prison in 1967 but was eventually caught. He also spent brief periods outside prison before being returned to custody for violating the terms of his release.
Who was Francis Clifford Smith?
Smith died in June 2026. In an unusual twist of events, he was served his final meal eight times, as each of his scheduled executions was halted at the last moment. His death sentence was ultimately commuted to life imprisonment in 1954, following his eighth scheduled execution.
During his decades behind bars, Smith also became known for a peculiar habit that earned him the nickname “The Birdman of Osborn.”
Andrius Banevicius, the public information officer for Connecticut’s Department of Correction, told the BBC that Smith would hide bread in his clothes to feed the birds.
“He would stuff as much bread as he could in his clothing,” according to VT.
“Everyone kind of turned a blind eye to it because they knew he was just feeding the birds.”
“I just go from day to day”
Speaking to the Boston Globe in 2023, Smith said:
“I’ve been locked up all my life. I just go from day to day as the circumstances present themselves.”
Smith was eventually paroled into a secure nursing home in 2020, where he spent his final years.
David Skoczulek, a spokesman for 60 West, the facility where Smith spent his final years, explained:
“Essentially, he died of old age.
“He had very limited family involvement around his passing, but we assured that everything was appropriate, met his wishes, and was dignified.”
“He did pretty well as far as longevity is concerned.”
The publication reported that no funeral was held following Smith’s death and that his body was cremated.