Life Means Life
Bloody Angola: A Podcast by Jim Chapman9 Nov 2023

Life Means Life

In today's podcast episode of Bloody Angola we tell you 3 short stories of Life at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola including the story of Warden John Whitley who started his professional life and ended it at Angola, the story of Billy Blake Johnson who lost his life attempting to escape Angola, and the Prison View Golf Course which makes "Life" better for the Correctional Officers at Angola.#bloodyangolapodcast #LifemeansLife #JohnWhitley #Podcast #LouisianastatepenitentiaryGET FREE BREAKFAST FOR LIFE AT HELLOFRESH!HelloFresh delivers step-by-step recipes and fresh, pre-portioned ingredients right to your door. First, you set your meal plan preferences with options for carnivores, vegetarians, calorie-counters, and more. You'll choose from 30+ delicious weekly recipes carefully put together by the amazing chefs!Click Here to get FREE breakfast FOR LIFE!www.Hellofresh.com/BloodyAngolafreeTRANSCRIPTBLOODY ANGOLA PODCAST: LIFE MEANS LIFE
Jim: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Bloody Angola, a podcast, 142 years in the making the complete story of America's bloodiest prison. And I'm Jim Chapman. Woody Overton could not join us today. We're working on some big, big stuff. And Woody's on assignment, that's all I can say. But there's going to be some really big stuff coming around the bend for everybody, so look forward to that. And I thought today, it would be fun to tell you some of the stories of Angola that you may not be familiar with, that aren't necessarily stories that can fill up, like, a whole hour of content, but at the same time, need to be told and are really good stories. So I wanted to share those with you, and we're going to jump right into it.
The first story I'm going to tell you about is actually about a former warden of Angola by the name of John Whitley. And John Whitley was actually the warden of Angola from 1990 until 1995. Look, John Whitley, the prison warden, was probably as prototypical as you can get to a prison warden when you would think of one. Kind of like the opposite of Burl Cain. Burl Cain was someone that, when you saw him, you wouldn't think he was the warden for the largest maximum-security prison in America. Same thing with John Whitley, but on the total opposite end, he is exactly what you would picture. He was a cowboy character. Actually, wore a cowboy hat and dressed with button up shirt. The picture I'm actually looking at now, he has a vest. It's almost like a leather vest over that button up shirt, and wears glasses, mustache, just looks like someone you would picture as a warden. And had a short but storied history at Angola relative to being a warden. Although he started off at the very bottom, and we're going to tell you all about that.
John Whitley attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, which is actually probably about an hour and 20 minutes from Angola. From where we record, right outside of Baton Rouge, it's actually about a half hour from us. It is I guess the second largest college in Louisiana outside of Louisiana State University. Good college. Whitley attended that college. He was actually born in Hammond, Louisiana as well. So he went to school same place he was born in. Now, after he left college, he ended up graduating in 1968. He enlisted in the United States Army. That's important. That was an important step in his life, because that was kind of in the heyday of Vietnam. People weren't necessarily just enlisting into the army. They were getting drafted. So it shows you John Whitley's courage and his commitment to his country that he would enlist in the United States Army. He actually served during the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1970.
Now, shortly after that, he started his career in corrections. So Whitley started that career at Angola in 1970, and he rose pretty much through those ranks quickly. He eventually became a deputy warden, and then he was promoted to warden of another Louisiana prison. So he was deputy warden at Angola. I know you've heard about us talk about Hunt Correctional Center, which is a prison, it's kind of like the baby brother to Angola, just a smaller, not so violent a prison as Angola. They needed a warden, and he actually got promoted to the warden of Hunt Correctional. From there, he left the state, and he ran a private prison in Texas. I know you've heard us talk about that with the private prisons are actually-- they're not ran by state employees. They're ran privately, and the state pays them for that service, and Texas has several of those, and he ran one of those private prisons in Texas.
Now, in 1990, Louisiana was like, “Man, what's going on here? This guy is in Texas, and he's got all this experience. He's a Louisiana guy, and we need him at Angola.” This was 1990, and Angola was in just a mess at that point, and they needed someone to restore order there, basically. At the time that they were seeking out John Whitley, they were having frequent, very frequent stabbings, suicides. They were dealing with a lot of escapes. And a US federal judge had actually declared, what's known as, a state of emergency at the prison in response to an ACLU lawsuit against the state specifically for the horrendous conditions at Angola. So it was a situation where they needed someone, not only with some Louisiana ties that really cared, but they also needed someone that had the experience to handle such a prison. John Whitley started there, rose all the way up to deputy warden. That was back since 1970. He was the perfect candidate for that. And so he took that job.
Within two years, Whitley had pretty much stemmed all of that violence. He established incentives for good behavior, which is something they did not have in Angola prior to his arrival there as warden. Some of those incentives for good behavior, he'd allow the inmates to have extra visits. He would increase the educational opportunities for the inmates. If you were good, maybe you had the opportunity to learn a trade that you had to have good behavior in order to get to learn, like maybe welding or something. I mean, you don't want someone that's causing a bunch of trouble in Angola getting a halt to a welding machine. So those things, he figured out-- He figured out the important thing-- When you're running a prison, and that is you've got to have incentives for the inmates. If there's no incentive for good behavior, they're not going to be good. That's just the bottom line.
So that was something he really stemmed, education wise for them. Also, literacy tutoring, computer and paralegal courses. He started bringing those into the prison not quite at the level that Warden Cain did later on, but the infancy of that is a credit to John Whitley and the things that he did. So he also enabled some trustworthy and deserving inmates to travel outside of the prison as part of some athletic teams and inmate bands that provided entertainment for-- They would entertain churches, they would entertain nursing homes and other charitable organizations throughout the area. John Whitley was kind of the guy who came up with the idea to start offering these things as a deterrent, if you will, against violence. He knew that these programs were the way to start.
So he also launched an outreach program to all the criminal justice programs in the state of Louisiana. So he would basically send prison officials and inmates, and they would go into these college classrooms, and they would help, both the students and the faculty better understand the realities of not only managing a prison, but life in prison as an inmate. Those things weren't done, at least with Angola inmates, before John Whitley became warden.
Now, one thing that's very important in prison, but is not commonly practiced, I guess you could say, is having an open-door policy with the media. Take it from me, y'all know that I love to research. It's not easy at all to find information about Angola, or probably most of your state prisons, and that is, they keep things that go on inside that prison, and you got to really dig to find information on stuff like that. But he was committed to, what I would call, an open-door policy with the media, and even The Angolite, which-- We've done several episodes about The Angolite and read many, many articles on that.
Well, The Angolite, the biggest concern with that magazine as time went on, and I noticed this as I was reading it was, it got a little farther and farther away from what was actually happening. What they were printing was the truth. But where in the 40s and 50s, when The Angolite was produced, they were talking about all these escapes and stabbings and all the things that happened inside that prison. When it got around to the 80s and 90s, it was a lot softer. There were things going on, but they weren't allowing The Angolite publishers or editors, rather, to print that [chuckles] or talk about it. And so didn't necessarily mean it wasn't going on. It's just the editors weren't putting it in there. But he wanted to have a welcoming nature with the media and try to cooperate with them rather.
And so one of the things that he allowed The Angolite to do was to produce material for radio and television journalism inside the prison, which-- Believe it or not, they have their own radio station there. They have a lot of film equipment there. They can actually film documentaries and stuff. The prisoners actually learn how to do this, and are as good as-- They got some producers in Angola that are as good or better than I am at doing that. Some of them probably better, and just amazing people out inside that prison that produced these things. But he didn't want them censored. The claim is that John Whitley did not censor the radio shows and stuff that were coming out of Angola, which is very interestin

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The Murderous Canton Brothers of New Orleans

The Murderous Canton Brothers of New Orleans

In this episode, The gripping tale of the Canton brothers is told, whose fateful robbery on Halloween 1911 led to the tragic murder of attorney Edgar Farrar Jr. and their subsequent arrest, sensational trial and the aftermath spent behind the wire, inside of Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.Timestamps01:30 The Canton Brothers' Crime09:23 The Murder of Edgar Farrar Jr.12:48 The Trial Begins14:02 A Mistrial and New Trial17:13 Verdicts Rendered21:51 A Letter of Clemency29:29 Changes in the Prison SystemGo to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! Join us on Patron for commercial free, early releases and much more HERE:Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/freebloodyangolaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

22 Aug 202441min

Extreme Heat Part 2

Extreme Heat Part 2

In this episode of Bloody Angola, we delve into the second part of Extreme Heat, discussing a civil lawsuit by inmates against the prison. We examine the backgrounds of the inmates named as plaintiffs, detailing their convictions for serious crimes like murder and armed robbery. The discussion covers the judge's ruling on Eighth Amendment violations due to extreme prison temperatures. We also explore the Angola Prison Rodeo, focusing on inmate Myron Smith.Legal developments include a federal judge ordering improvements for inmates working in extreme heat on the farm line, addressing allegations of inhumane conditions and forced labor. The conversation delves into the state's responses, and the aftermath.Timestamps02:19 Inmates' Criminal Backgrounds06:56 Myron Smith: From Rodeo Champion to Plaintiff 11:40 Federal Judge's Order on Angola Conditions25:36 Inmates' Victories and Public Response29:05 Legal Strategies and Inmate Advocacy30:58 Inmate Law Libraries and Defense StrategiesGo to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! Join us on Patron for commercial free, early releases and much more HERE:Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/freebloodyangolaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

15 Aug 202437min

Extreme Heat

Extreme Heat

In this episode, Woody Overton and Jim Chapman examine the legal battle unfolding at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where inmates are challenging the brutal working conditions in the fields. The lawsuit alleges many issues in the prison including the lack of breaks, absence of clean water, inadequate equipment, and extreme heat that endanger the prisoners' well-being. Plaintiffs like Myron Smith, Demarius Jackson, Nate Walker, and Darius Williams share the unjust treatment and unsafe practices they endure, invoking constitutional amendments prohibiting cruel punishment and involuntary servitude. We cover the lawsuit, the result and the aftermath in this episode.Timestamps05:53 Lawsuit Filed Against Angola State Penitentiary12:56 Overview of the Voice of the Experienced (VOTE)16:41 Plaintiffs Introduction: Myron Smith, Demarius Jackson, Nate Walker, Darius Williams30:37 Psychological Risks and Administration of the Farm Line35:33 Individual Allegations: Myron Smith39:48 Individual Allegations: Darius Williams42:48 Individual Allegations: Nate Walker43:00 Individual Allegations: Demarius JacksonGo to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/freebloodyangolaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

8 Aug 202450min

The Young Gun: Warden Ross Maggio

The Young Gun: Warden Ross Maggio

In this episode of Bloody Angola Podcast we discuss the remarkable journey of Warden Ross Maggio at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The youngest warden in Angola history at just 36 years old, he was renowned for his resilience during a harrowing kidnapping incident and his transformative leadership. Through prioritizing inmate work, security, and rehabilitation programs, Maggio reshaped Bloody Angola from a violent environment to a safer, disciplined prison. By implementing proactive security measures and emphasizing discipline, Maggio significantly reduced violent incidents and set a new standard for effective prison management. Despite facing challenges and criticisms, his unwavering commitment to safety and order left a lasting impact on Angola's prison system.Timestamps04:01 Retirement Reflections09:10 Winds of Change19:16 New Beginnings at Hunt23:25 Advocating for Inmates25:40 System Crossroads28:26 Farewell to Angola#rossmaggio #louisiana #bloodyangola #podcast #prison #crime #criminal #warden Go to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaappsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

31 Juli 202437min

TWISTERS In Prison!

TWISTERS In Prison!

Go to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! we delve into the wild weather events that have occured at Louisiana State Penitentiary.It’s a special bonus episode for everyone this week!In this episode of Bloody Angola Podcast we explore the history of tornados and flooding at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. The impact of catastrophic floods in 1922, which led to the expansion of Angola to prevent future evacuations and challenges faced by correctional staff during these events courtesy of Mother Nature.Timestamps02:14 History of Flooding in Angola05:37 Weather Events in Angola08:27 Electrical Service Disruption09:41 Heavy Rainfall Inundation12:19 Livingston Parish Prison Flood16:09 Impact of Storms on Prisons18:24 Orleans Parish Prison During Hurricane Katrina24:43 Inmates' Plight During Hurricane KatrinaOur Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaappsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

29 Juli 202432min

Dangerous, Infamous, Notorious

Dangerous, Infamous, Notorious

Go to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners! In this episode, we delve into the world of America's most dangerous prisons, starting with Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama known as the Slaughterhouse. Moving on to Orleans Parish Prison with its reign of violence and numerous deaths. Pelican Bay State Prison in California is criticized for gang violence control, contrasting the setup with Angola. Rikers Island in New York is notorious with notable inmates like Tupac Shakur. Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the largest maximum security prison in the U.S., known for its violent history, San Quentin, the oldest prison in California with death row for male prisoners, housing infamous criminals like Charles Manson. Folsom State Prison gained notoriety through Johnny Cash's concert. Sing Sing Correctional Facility, known for its electric chair executions. Attica Correctional Facility marked by riots and brutal violence, including the infamous Attica riot of 1971.The episode also explores some of America's most dangerous female criminals, such as Belle Guinness, who killed over 40 people for insurance money. Gwendolyn Graham and Catherine May Wood, who killed elderly patients for thrill. Patty Hearst, who orchestrated her own kidnapping for ransom. Andrea Yates, who tragically drowned her five children due to severe mental health issues. Jane Toppin, a nurse who killed multiple patients. Nanny Doss, who poisoned multiple family members for financial gain. Delphine LaLaurie, who tortured and murdered slaves in New Orleans.The episode further delves into the lives of the 10 most dangerous inmates globally, including Dennis Radar, the BTK killer, and a man nicknamed Charles Bronson, infamous for his violent prison behavior. El Chapo Guzman, the former drug lord, and David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam. Charles Cullen, an angel of death in the medical profession, and Joseph James D'Angelo, the Golden State Killer and we even cover an inmate named “Eyeball”Timestamps02:43 Most Dangerous Prisons in the United States13:37 America's Most Notorious Female Criminals19:59 Patty Hearst - Daughter Turned Criminal25:37 Delphine LaLaurie - Torturer of Slaves32:47 Aileen Wuornos - The Tragic Serial Killer36:32 Call him Charles Bronson - Violent Prisoner38:45 El Chapo Guzman - Drug Lord Extraordinaire38:51 David Berkowitz - The Son of Sam39:44 Charles Cullen - Angel of Death40:52 Joseph James D'Angelo - The Golden State Killer42:21 Jason Barnum - The Infamous EyeballOur Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaappsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

25 Juli 202448min

Incarcerating Connor Wood

Incarcerating Connor Wood

Go to HelloFresh.com/BloodyAngolaapps for FREE APPETIZERS for life for Bloody Angola Listeners!  Woody Overton and Jim Chapman tell the story of Connor Wood. A 15 year old convicted of the murder of his parents and his best friend in Ferriday, Louisiana in 2008.Timestamps02:27 The Disturbing Phone Call03:25 The Identity Revealed04:48 Uncovering the Truth05:46 Shocking Discoveries06:47 A Surprising Revelation10:29 Connor's Confession15:43 The Failed Plan16:57 Plan Gone Awry18:37 Confrontation in the Hallway20:09 Shocking Conclusion21:09 Motive Revealed21:51 Legal Proceedings30:37 Sentencing Explanation33:02 Parole Opportunity36:05 Prisoner Rehabilitation Program#bloodyangolapodcast #connorwood #crime #truecrime #podcast #louisiana #prison Our Sponsors:* Check out HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/bloodyangolaappsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

17 Juli 202447min

The lengths One Will Go To Escape Prison Part 2

The lengths One Will Go To Escape Prison Part 2

We continue to blow your mind with some of the most Brazen prison escape stories of all time!Timestamps04:21 Japanese Prisoner Escapes: Yoshi Shiatori05:23 Prison Break in Fort San Cristobal06:55 Penal Colonies and Escapes07:06 Escape-Proof Camp: Colditz Castle08:52 Escape of French Resistance Fighter: Andre Devigny15:13 Acre Prison Break: Jewish Underground Groups19:56 Serial Killer Escape: Monroe Hickson21:17 Escape from Alcatraz22:09 Alcatraz Escape Continues25:05 Monroe Hickson's Fate Revealed29:40 Escape and Recapture of Thomas Knight30:44 Escape of Drug Smuggler: Billy Hayes32:45 Escape from Puente Caritas Penitentiary34:24 Helicopter Escape from Mountjoy Prison36:49 Escapes of Serial Killer Carlton Gary36:56 Carlton Gary's Capture and Execution38:59 Escape and Capture of James Robert Jones39:16 Ted Bundy's Christmas Escape40:39 Prisoner Mentality and EscapesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bloody-angola-podcast-by-woody-overton-and-jim-chapman/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

11 Juli 202443min

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