MANSFIELD, Ohio—A relic from a bygone penal era sits in his cell at Richland Correctional Institution.
Isiah Andrews, 73, has spent most of his adult life in prison.
In 1975, he received a life sentence for killing his wife—a crime he claims he was wrongly convicted of.
Little over a year into his term, on November 11, 1976, Andrews and another convict scaled two 12-foot fences during recreation time at the recently opened Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. Tower guards fired at the escapees and both were recaptured.
He’s now been in state custody for 36 years and counting.
A New Jersey-native, Andrews joined the Marine Corps at 18, hoping to make it a career.
However, he was unable to get along with his motor pool sergeant at Camp Lejune, North Carolina.
Soon, the NCO charged him with disrespect and insolence.
Furious over the matter, 19-year-old Pvt. Andrews shot and killed 31-year-old Sgt. Paul E. Grant on Jan 10, 1958. He was sentenced to 40 years for the murder, and committed to Leavenworth, Kansas.
Considered a custodial concern, he and ten others were shipped to Alcatraz, and processed in on September 7, 1961.
Number 1530-AZ stuck close to the black inmate population, but was on the island for just over a year before being transferred amid the prisons closing.
Andrews was released in the early 70’s and moved to Ohio.
His next parole hearing is in 2014.
E-mail Drew Morita at drew_morita@yahoo.com
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