10 prisoners who spent a record number of years in prison (11 photos)

The justice system is designed in such a way that each crime has its own punishment: from administrative fines to imprisonment. And for particularly serious offenses a life sentence is given (except for those countries where the death penalty has not yet been abolished). It happened that such punishment was carried out when the offender was still very young (even under 18 years old).





We decided to find out which prison term is the longest in history, and took 10 record cases. We would like to point out that some of them are controversial because the verdicts were handed down during a time of racial prejudice.

10th place. William Heirens



Sentence: 65 years and 6 months (1946-2012)

Crime: serial murders

The press gave him the nickname “the lipstick killer” after a message left by the victim.

9th place. Warren Nutter



Sentence: 65 years, 10 months and 6 days (1956-2021)

Crime: robbery, murder of a policeman

Escaped the death penalty and died in prison in 2021.

8th place. Sammy Robinson



Sentence: 66 years and 85 days (1953-2019)

Crime: rape, murder in prison

The first sentence was subsequently overturned, since at that time (1953) Sammy was not provided with legal assistance, as a result of which he did not even have the opportunity to justify himself.

7th place. Johnson Van Dyke Grigsby



Sentence: 66 years and 123 days (1908-1974)

Crime: murder during a fight

6th place. Joe Ligon



Sentence: 67 years and 54 days (1953-2021)

Crime: murder, drunken violence

He was sentenced to life imprisonment at 15 years.

5th place. Walter H. Bourke Jr.



Sentence: 68 years and 10 days (December 11, 1955 - present)

Crime: murder with extreme cruelty

4th place. John Phillips



Sentence: 68 years, 7 months and 23 days (1952-2021)

Crime: rape

The popular opinion in the press is that this man is most likely innocent, since people with mental retardation (the official diagnosis of John Phillips) are prone to perjury and are susceptible to influence.

3rd place. Paul Heidel Jr.



Sentence: 68 years, 8 months and 2 days (1911-1980)

Crime: robbery and murder

2nd place. Francis Clifford Smith



Sentence: 70 years and 31 days (1950-2020)

Crime: robbery and murder

In 2020 he was transferred to a nursing home.

1 place. Charles Foussard



Sentence: 70 years and 303 days (1903-1974)

Crime: robbery and murder

He spent most of his imprisonment in the J. Ward psychiatric hospital in Australia. At the time of his death he was 91-92 years old.