On Easter Sunday in 1993, the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville erupted into chaos. Tensions between prisoners and staff had reached a breaking point, sparking one of the longest prison sieges in U.S. history. Over eleven days, nine inmates and one corrections officer would lose their lives. But what caused the riot? And for the hundreds trapped inside, what did it mean to survive it? Today’s episode kicks off a month-long exploration of the Lucasville uprising. An event that put all eyes on Ohio, and left one man reeling in its wake.
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Please be aware that today’s episode contains descriptions of violence and brief mentions of sexual assault. Please take care while listening.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
Audio Used:
YouTube: The Great Incarcerator, part 2: The Shadow of Lucasville uploaded by djones.
YouTube: Bloody history: 1993 Lucasville prison riots uploaded by Hearst Television.
Sound Cloud: Lucasville 1992 prison riot in Ohio from WTVN coverage uploaded by Dean6oh.
libcom.org: Black and White and Dead All Over: The Lucasville Insurrection by Staughton Lynd.
Sources Used:
Statement of Stacey Gordon, 8 September 1994.
Interview #1264 (PART 1) with Aaron Jefferson.
Death Penalty Information Center: Time on Death Row.
CBS News: Execution date for Ohio inmate convicted in Lucasville prison riot rescheduled for 2027.Condemned: The Whole Story by Keith Lamar.
Interviews conducted by the Truer Crime Podcast team:
Michael Sangiacomo
Keith LaMar
Herman Carson
