America’s oldest inmate dies at 101 – guards turned blind eye to bizarre prison habit during 70 years behind bars

 

After spending more than 70 years behind bars, America’s longest-serving prisoner, Francis Clifford Smith, died at the age of 101.

When Smith was 25 years old, he was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Grover Hart, a night watchman at a Connecticut yacht club.

He did attempt to escape prison in 1967, but was 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 had been served his final meal eight times before each scheduled execution was stopped. His death sentence was ultimately commuted to life in prison in 1954, after 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 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 the facility 60 West, 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 it 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 after Smith’s death, and his body was cremated.