Mark DeFriest

Mark DeFriest
Born Age approximately 54
Nationality American
Criminal penalty
 4 years+
Criminal status Incarcerated

Mark DeFriest, nicknamed the Houdini of Florida, is a prisoner in the United States. He was arrested for theft after picking up a set of tools willed to him by his father. The tools had not yet been probated, so taking possession of the tools before that had happened constituted theft. In 1980, at age 20, he was sentenced and sent to prison for 4 years in the state of Florida. He has been in prison for 34 years, 27 of which were in solitary confinement in the "X" wing of Florida State Prison. His sentence has been extended many times due to minor offenses while incarcerated. His nickname came about as a result of his 13 escape attempts. He was successful 7 times. He is now 54 years old.[1][2][3]

A parole hearing in December 2014[4] set a release potential date for DeFriest of March 2015.[5]

DeFriest is the subject of the 2014 documentary film The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest.

References

  1. ↑ "Film tells dark tale of Mark DeFriest, the long-imprisoned ‘Houdini of Florida’". miamiherald. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Mark HinsonDemocrat senior writer (14 August 2014). "Meet Mark DeFriest, the most unlucky prisoner in Florida". Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  3. ↑ P. Douglas Filaroski. "Judge denies inmate's transfer bid - Jacksonville.com". Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest: New Film Captures Florida Prisoner’s Shocking Ordeal Behind Bars". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Farringdon, Brendan (17 December 2014). "Mark DeFriest: Florida Parole Commission Hears 'Prison Houdini' Case". Huffington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 January 2015.

External links