Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Francis Clifford Smith, Longest-Serving US Prisoner, Dies at 101
Francis Clifford Smith was sent to prison after being convicted of a 1949 murder in Connecticut.
He said he was innocent and was not at the crime scene.
A court sentenced him to death in 1950.
His execution was delayed eight different times.
One delay followed a witness changing her testimony.
In 1954, his death sentence became life in prison.
He spent more than 69 years behind bars, except for brief periods away.
He was released to an eldercare facility in 2020 and died at age 101.
Francis Clifford Smith died at 101 while on supervised parole in a Connecticut nursing facility.
He was convicted of murdering nightwatchman Grover Hart during a 1949 yacht-club robbery.
Smith spent more than 69 years incarcerated after receiving a death sentence in 1950.
He was spared execution eight times, including after receiving eight scheduled last meals.
Smith consistently maintained his innocence and was released to eldercare in July 2020.
- Who
- Francis Clifford Smith, who was convicted of murdering Grover Hart.
- What
- Smith, believed to be the longest-serving prisoner in US history, died at age 101.
- When
- He died after his July 2020 release; the articles do not provide an exact date of death.
- Where
- A Connecticut nursing facility, while he was on supervised parole.
- Why
- He had been released to eldercare because of advanced age and declining health; the articles do not state a cause of death.
Court’s Finding
Smith’s Account
Responsibility for the murder
Court’s Finding
Smith was convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Grover Hart during the 1949 robbery.
Smith’s Account
Smith consistently maintained that he was innocent and was not present when the crime occurred.
Reliability of testimony
Court’s Finding
The conviction remained in place, although the article notes that a key witness recanted her testimony shortly before a scheduled 1951 execution.
Smith’s Account
The witness’s recantation was one of the events that delayed his execution, while Smith continued to deny involvement.
- Age at death
- 101
- Time incarcerated
- More than 69 years
- Crime
- The 1949 shooting death of 68-year-old nightwatchman Grover Hart during a robbery
- Conviction and sentence
- Convicted of first-degree murder in June 1950 and sentenced to death
- Execution delays
- Execution was stayed eight times
- Sentence change
- His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1954
- Release
- Granted parole in July 2020 to an eldercare facility