MERLE CLUTTS AND ROBERT HOFFMAN

Merle Clutts And Robert Hoffman

Two of the most infamous prison murders in US history happened on October 22, 1983, in Marion, Illinois. A 51-year-old prison guard named Merle Clutts was escorting former Aryan Brotherhood leader, Thomas “Terrible Tommy” Silverstein, back to his cell after a shower. Silverstein was slipped a shank, charged at Clutts, and stabbed him 40 times, killing him.

Eight hours later, in the same prison, 53-year-old Robert Hoffman and two other guards were transferring Clayton Fountain, also a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, when Fountain was given a shank by another prisoner and attacked the officers. Hoffman was able to save the other two guards before being stabbed himself. He then managed to make it back to his son, who was also a prison guard, before dying in his arms.

This was the first and only time two correctional officers were murdered on the same day in separate incidents in the history of the US penal system. At the time, Marion Prison was considered one of the most secure facilities in the country. After the murders, Marion went into a 23-year super lockdown, with inmates kept in their cells for much of the day. Both Fountain and Silverstein were already being held at the highest level of security after murdering two other inmates. This lead to the creation of ADX Florence Supermax prison as a way of dealing with the most violent and dangerous criminals in America.