Arizona’s Most Notorious Criminal Is Back For Blood

Arizona has no shortage of legendary criminals. The Wild West ran through this state, so gangs, bandits, and cowboys made their name as some of the toughest men and women to walk American soil.

More recently, one Arizona inmate has built a name for himself, long after the era of Outlaws and Gunslingers came to an end.

The Standoff

In 1997, a man named Ricky Wassenaar was given a 28 year prison sentence for aggravated assault and armed robbery. He was sent to the Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye, where he served eight years. It was in 2004 that he planned his escape.

He and his cellmate attempted to escape, making their way through the compound before they arrived at the Arsenal tower. There, they took correctional officers hostage and began the longest prison stand-off in American history, last 15 days. The two eventually gave themselves up, and Wassenaar was given 16 consecutive life sentences.

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Back in Trouble

Wassenaar hasn't exactly been a model prisoner since, but he's finally pushed his luck too far. On Friday, April 4th, three inmates in the prison in Tucson were murdered after an altercation inside prison walls. You'll never believe who the prime suspect is.

Wassenaar is the sole suspect of this incident, and correctional officers believe that he only intended to kill the three, who were incarcerated for first-degree murder and child sex offenses. They believe he poses no further threat, but with a man as violent and unpredictable as Wassenaar, you really never know. We can only be thankful he's locked up there, and not roaming free.

[USA Today]