The Man Who Survived 8 Death Sentences | Charleston News

Charleston West Virginia News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 20, 2026 · 1m

At 101, Francis Clifford Smith, once believed to be the oldest inmate in the U.S., died peacefully in his sleep — a man who spent over 70 years behind bars, survived eight execution stays, and never wavered in his claim of innocence for a 1949 murder he says he didn’t commit. His death sentence was overturned more times than most people live through birthdays — finally commuted to life in 1954, he escaped once in 1967, was paroled twice, and ultimately settled into supervised care in a nursing home in 2020, living out his final years with quiet dignity. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a…