Recently, a viral list has been circulating that discusses the longest prison sentences served worldwide. One individual that caught people’s attention is Charles Foussard, who served an astonishing 70 years behind bars. The thought of spending your entire life in prison is undeniably frightening, and this list has prompted many to inquire about the longest-serving individuals in their respective states.
Today, our focus will be on the state of Iowa.
In America, there have been numerous instances of individuals receiving multiple life sentences. To determine the rankings for this list, we will be considering the amount of time served. It is important to note that the numbers may vary depending on the source, so we will be referring to three different sources.
The Longest Prison Sentence Served In Iowa
The Gazette reports that the longest sentence served is 65 years.
Warren “Jack” Nutter, 84, died the same way he lived most of his life — incarcerated. He spent 65 years in prison for murdering a police officer in Independence in 1956. He was the longest-serving inmate in Iowa history and one of the longest anywhere in the country.
Warren Nutter, who holds the title for being the longest serving prisoner in Iowa, tragically passed away in prison after serving 65 years. His remarkable longevity as an inmate is only surpassed by Francis Clifford Smith, who miraculously survived his life sentence. According to sources, Smith is described as follows:
Longest-serving prison inmate in the United States whose sentence ended in release. Sentenced to death for the murder of a nightwatchman during a robbery at a yacht club in July 1949, his sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1954, only two hours before his scheduled execution.[2] Smith was imprisoned in the Osborn Correctional Institution, but was paroled and moved to a nursing home in July 2020
