Arizona prisoner serving 16 life sentences accused of killing 3 fellow inmates
An Arizona prisoner serving 16 life sentences has been accused of killing three other inmates at a state prison in Tucson. Ricky Wassenaar allegedly murdered Saul Alvarez, Thorne Harnage, and Donald Lashley during an altercation at the Arizona State Prison Cimmaron Unit.
Wassenaar, who is the sole suspect in the incident, is said to have acted with “intent to harm,” according to prison officials. Alvarez was incarcerated for a murder in Maricopa County, Harnage for sexual conduct with a minor in Pima County, and Lashley for child molestation also in Pima County.
Prior to this incident, Wassenaar was already serving 16 life sentences for his involvement in a prison standoff in 2004. Along with another individual, he had taken two guards hostage for 15 days at the Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye, Arizona, marking one of the longest prison hostage situations in U.S. history.
In the recent tragedy, Wassenaar allegedly used a kitchen guard’s uniform to deceive another guard into allowing him access to a prison watchtower. He acquired the uniform by overpowering an officer with a makeshift weapon. Following the inmate deaths, Wassenaar was transferred to a prison in Florence, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The Arizona Department of Corrections stated that the Office of the Inspector General has initiated a criminal investigation into the inmate deaths. All inmate deaths are examined in collaboration with the county medical examiner’s office. The department emphasized its commitment to taking violence seriously and pursuing prosecution against any suspects involved in the case.
As a result of the altercation, visitations at the prison were canceled for the remainder of the day on Friday. The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that exist within the prison system and the importance of ensuring the safety and security of both inmates and staff members.
