Clayton Fountain
Serial Killer and Prisoner
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Fort Benning, Georgia
TIME PERIOD
1974-1983
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
On October 22, 1983, Clayton Fountain, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood and an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, stabbed Correction Officer Robert L. Hoffmann to death using a shiv, marking him as one of the most dangerous prisoners in the federal system. Fountain, born on September 12, 1955, in Fort Benning, Georgia, had previously been convicted of murdering his staff sergeant in the Philippines in 1974 while serving in the U.S. Marines. His criminal activities spanned from 1974 to 1983, during which he committed multiple violent offenses, including the murders of three inmates and one correctional officer, resulting in life imprisonment and additional sentences for various charges. Fountain died in custody on July 12, 2004, at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, where he remained incarcerated until his death.
Clayton Fountain is believed to have committed multiple murders during his time in the military and while incarcerated. Some speculate that his violent behavior was influenced by his early responsibilities and the unstable environment of his childhood. Additionally, theories suggest that his affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood may have played a role in his criminal activities and mindset.
The Complex Life of Clayton Fountain
In the shadowy corridors of American prisons, few names evoke as much fear and intrigue as Clayton Anthony Fountain. Born on September 12, 1955, at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fountain's life was marked by violence, transformation, and a relentless quest for redemption. By the time of his death on July 12, 2004, at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, Fountain had traversed an extraordinary path from a feared serial killer to a man of spiritual devotion.
Early Life and Military Service
Clayton Anthony Fountain emerged into the world as the eldest of six children, named after his father, Clayton Raleigh Fountain. In a family constantly on the move due to his father's military service, young Clayton often assumed parental responsibilities. He cooked, cleaned, and cared for his siblings, a role thrust upon him as his father served combat tours in Korea and Vietnam while his mother worked.
Fountain's own military journey began with the U.S. Marines, stationed in the Philippines. It was here, in 1974, that he committed his first known murder, an act that would set the tone for his violent career. After stealing and disassembling a pistol from the ship's armory, Fountain used it to rob a Filipino guard of his shotgun. In a chilling encounter, he shot his staff sergeant, Wrin, in the chest without uttering a word, then took five hostages. This violent outburst followed a reprimand from Wrin for wearing inappropriate attire in the mess hall. For this, Fountain received a life sentence, later extended by two years for aggravated assault and attempted escape.
The Prison Years
Fountain's life sentence landed him in the United States Penitentiary, Marion, recognized at the time as the nation's most secure prison. Here, his notoriety grew as he murdered three inmates and a correctional officer. These brutal acts earned him the label of "Most Dangerous Prisoner" in the federal system. Among his victims was Charles Stewart in 1979, whom Fountain killed alongside fellow inmate Hugh Colomb. Colomb, serving a sentence for armed bank robbery, was convicted with Fountain of voluntary manslaughter and conveying a weapon in prison, receiving an additional 15 years to his sentence. Colomb was eventually released in 2015, only to pass away in 2016.
The most infamous of Fountain's murders occurred on October 22, 1983, when he fatally stabbed Correction Officer Robert L. Hoffmann. This murder happened just hours after his friend and fellow Aryan Brotherhood member, Thomas Silverstein, killed another correction officer, Merle Clutts, in the same facility. The twin killings sparked outrage, leading to a 23-year lockdown at Marion and prompting the creation of the supermax prison, United States Penitentiary, Florence ADX. The murders drew attention from U.S. Attorney General William French Smith, who urged Congress to reinstate the federal death penalty, arguing that these inmates were killing "for sport" with impunity, as they were already serving maximum sentences.
Isolation and Transformation
After these notorious acts, Fountain was transferred to the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Here, he lived in a specially constructed unit, isolated from all but authorized personnel. It was during these years of isolation that Fountain experienced a profound transformation. He converted to Catholicism and pursued education fervently, earning an associate degree in business and a bachelor's degree in philosophy and business from Ohio University. His spiritual journey led him to earn a Catholic Catechetical Diploma and begin a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Catholic Distance University.
Fountain formed a deep connection with an order of Trappist monks, a bond that persisted until his death from a heart attack in 2004. In a remarkable turn of events, he was posthumously accepted as a lay brother by the monks. His life and transformation are chronicled in the book "A Different Kind of Cell: The Story of a Murderer Who Became a Monk," which includes a foreword by Sister Helen Prejean.
The Victims
Fountain's violent path left several victims in its wake:
- Staff Sergeant Wrin (1974, Philippines)
- Charles Stewart (1979, USP, Marion)
- Robert Chappelle (1981, USP, Marion)
- Raymond Smith (1982, USP, Marion)
- Robert Hoffmann (1983, USP, Marion)
Fountain's murders of Chappelle and Smith were committed with Thomas Silverstein, while the killing of Stewart was alongside Hugh Colomb.
Legacy
Clayton Fountain's life is a tapestry of violence and redemption, a narrative that stretches from the bloody corridors of high-security prisons to a solitary confinement cell where he found faith. His story forces us to confront the complexities of the human spirit, capable of both unimaginable violence and profound transformation.
Sources
For more information on Clayton Fountain, visit the Wikipedia page.
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First Murder Committed
Clayton Fountain murders Staff Sergeant Wrin in the Philippines.
Additional Murders in Prison
Fountain murders inmates Charles Stewart and Robert Chappelle at USP Marion.
More Prison Murders
Fountain murders inmate Raymond Smith at USP Marion.
Correction Officer Murdered
Fountain stabs correction officer Robert L. Hoffmann to death.
Lockdown Initiated
A 23-year lockdown is implemented at USP Marion following the murders.
Conviction for Manslaughter
Fountain is convicted of voluntary manslaughter and conveying a weapon in prison.
Death of Clayton Fountain
Clayton Fountain dies from a heart attack while serving life imprisonment.
On October 22, 1983, Clayton Fountain, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood and an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, stabbed Correction Officer Robert L. Hoffmann to death using a shiv, marking him as one of the most dangerous prisoners in the federal system. Fountain, born on September 12, 1955, in Fort Benning, Georgia, had previously been convicted of murdering his staff sergeant in the Philippines in 1974 while serving in the U.S. Marines. His criminal activities spanned from 1974 to 1983, during which he committed multiple violent offenses, including the murders of three inmates and one correctional officer, resulting in life imprisonment and additional sentences for various charges. Fountain died in custody on July 12, 2004, at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, where he remained incarcerated until his death.
Clayton Fountain is believed to have committed multiple murders during his time in the military and while incarcerated. Some speculate that his violent behavior was influenced by his early responsibilities and the unstable environment of his childhood. Additionally, theories suggest that his affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood may have played a role in his criminal activities and mindset.
The Complex Life of Clayton Fountain
In the shadowy corridors of American prisons, few names evoke as much fear and intrigue as Clayton Anthony Fountain. Born on September 12, 1955, at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fountain's life was marked by violence, transformation, and a relentless quest for redemption. By the time of his death on July 12, 2004, at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, Fountain had traversed an extraordinary path from a feared serial killer to a man of spiritual devotion.
Early Life and Military Service
Clayton Anthony Fountain emerged into the world as the eldest of six children, named after his father, Clayton Raleigh Fountain. In a family constantly on the move due to his father's military service, young Clayton often assumed parental responsibilities. He cooked, cleaned, and cared for his siblings, a role thrust upon him as his father served combat tours in Korea and Vietnam while his mother worked.
Fountain's own military journey began with the U.S. Marines, stationed in the Philippines. It was here, in 1974, that he committed his first known murder, an act that would set the tone for his violent career. After stealing and disassembling a pistol from the ship's armory, Fountain used it to rob a Filipino guard of his shotgun. In a chilling encounter, he shot his staff sergeant, Wrin, in the chest without uttering a word, then took five hostages. This violent outburst followed a reprimand from Wrin for wearing inappropriate attire in the mess hall. For this, Fountain received a life sentence, later extended by two years for aggravated assault and attempted escape.
The Prison Years
Fountain's life sentence landed him in the United States Penitentiary, Marion, recognized at the time as the nation's most secure prison. Here, his notoriety grew as he murdered three inmates and a correctional officer. These brutal acts earned him the label of "Most Dangerous Prisoner" in the federal system. Among his victims was Charles Stewart in 1979, whom Fountain killed alongside fellow inmate Hugh Colomb. Colomb, serving a sentence for armed bank robbery, was convicted with Fountain of voluntary manslaughter and conveying a weapon in prison, receiving an additional 15 years to his sentence. Colomb was eventually released in 2015, only to pass away in 2016.
The most infamous of Fountain's murders occurred on October 22, 1983, when he fatally stabbed Correction Officer Robert L. Hoffmann. This murder happened just hours after his friend and fellow Aryan Brotherhood member, Thomas Silverstein, killed another correction officer, Merle Clutts, in the same facility. The twin killings sparked outrage, leading to a 23-year lockdown at Marion and prompting the creation of the supermax prison, United States Penitentiary, Florence ADX. The murders drew attention from U.S. Attorney General William French Smith, who urged Congress to reinstate the federal death penalty, arguing that these inmates were killing "for sport" with impunity, as they were already serving maximum sentences.
Isolation and Transformation
After these notorious acts, Fountain was transferred to the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Here, he lived in a specially constructed unit, isolated from all but authorized personnel. It was during these years of isolation that Fountain experienced a profound transformation. He converted to Catholicism and pursued education fervently, earning an associate degree in business and a bachelor's degree in philosophy and business from Ohio University. His spiritual journey led him to earn a Catholic Catechetical Diploma and begin a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Catholic Distance University.
Fountain formed a deep connection with an order of Trappist monks, a bond that persisted until his death from a heart attack in 2004. In a remarkable turn of events, he was posthumously accepted as a lay brother by the monks. His life and transformation are chronicled in the book "A Different Kind of Cell: The Story of a Murderer Who Became a Monk," which includes a foreword by Sister Helen Prejean.
The Victims
Fountain's violent path left several victims in its wake:
- Staff Sergeant Wrin (1974, Philippines)
- Charles Stewart (1979, USP, Marion)
- Robert Chappelle (1981, USP, Marion)
- Raymond Smith (1982, USP, Marion)
- Robert Hoffmann (1983, USP, Marion)
Fountain's murders of Chappelle and Smith were committed with Thomas Silverstein, while the killing of Stewart was alongside Hugh Colomb.
Legacy
Clayton Fountain's life is a tapestry of violence and redemption, a narrative that stretches from the bloody corridors of high-security prisons to a solitary confinement cell where he found faith. His story forces us to confront the complexities of the human spirit, capable of both unimaginable violence and profound transformation.
Sources
For more information on Clayton Fountain, visit the Wikipedia page.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Clayton Fountain murders Staff Sergeant Wrin in the Philippines.
Additional Murders in Prison
Fountain murders inmates Charles Stewart and Robert Chappelle at USP Marion.
More Prison Murders
Fountain murders inmate Raymond Smith at USP Marion.
Correction Officer Murdered
Fountain stabs correction officer Robert L. Hoffmann to death.
Lockdown Initiated
A 23-year lockdown is implemented at USP Marion following the murders.
Conviction for Manslaughter
Fountain is convicted of voluntary manslaughter and conveying a weapon in prison.
Death of Clayton Fountain
Clayton Fountain dies from a heart attack while serving life imprisonment.