Secrets That Cellmates Of Notorious Prisoners Didn't Keep
Jailhouse informants, who are often referred to as "snitches," have, at times, helped prosecutors secure convictions of some of the country's most notorious criminals. However, the testimony given by informants, who are often cellmates, has also been criticized as unreliable. As reported by Behind the Badge, informants often seek compensation in exchange for testimony.
In some cases, however, "informants" have actually helped their cellmates in significant ways. Eric Riddick, who shared a cell with rapper Meek Mill, was serving a life sentence for the 1991 shooting of William Catlett. However, he insisted he was wrongfully convicted. As reported by 100.3 Philadelphia, Meek Mill became convinced of Riddick's innocence and began a campaign for his exoneration as soon as he was released.
Meek Mill's efforts to have authorities reexamine Riddick's case led to his ultimate release from prison. Although the deal required a plea of no contest, Eric Riddick is now a free man.
Most jailhouse informants provide information relevant to an inmate's conviction. However, others are simply willing to expose their cellmate's secrets because they are famous.
Michael Bruno, who was in a cell next to Ted Bundy, said Bundy wasn't well liked due to the nature of his crimes. However, as reported by Associated Press, Bundy and Bruno became friends and often played handball together when they were granted time in the exercise yard. Bruno also said Ted Bundy was always polite with Bruno's family when they came to the prison for visits.
Shayna Hubers' former cellmate said she parades around in the nude for attention
Shayna Hubers is currently serving life in person for the 2012 murder of her then-boyfriend Ryan Poston. As reported by WCPO, Shayna was originally convicted in 2015 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. However, she was granted a retrial when it was revealed that one of the original jurors failed to disclose they were a convicted felon.
During the second trial, Shayna Hubers' former cellmate, Donna Dooley, testified that Shayna has "no remorse at all." Dooley testified that Shayna would openly cry and express remorse during recorded phone calls. However, as reported by WCPO, she would "wink ... and smile and tell [Dooley and others] she was such a good actress." Hubers also told her cellmate there are "worse crimes than murder."
Holly Nivens, who is another of Shayna Hubers' former cellmates, said Shayna would go to great lengths to gain the attention of male inmates who were working in the women's facility. As reported by InTouch, Nivens said Shayna walked around in a white tank top and panties whenever male inmates were in the cellblock. She also tried to engage them in conversation, despite repeated warnings from the guards.
Nivens said Shayna Hubers would also "run out of her room naked to get attention from the guards." At the conclusion of her second trial, Shayna Hubers was convicted once again for the murder of Ryan Poston and was sentenced to life in prison.
Former inmate shares secrets about Charles Manson
On January 25, 1971, Charles Manson was found guilty on seven counts of murder and multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison.
Willie Mendez, whose cell was next to Manson's, shared details about his interactions with Manson in a book titled "Charles Manson Behind Bars: The Crazy Antics and Amazing Revelations of America's Icon of Evil." Mendez, who Manson nicknamed "Box Car," initially felt contempt toward his neighbor. However, he eventually got to know Manson on a more personal level.
In an interview with the podcast "True Murder," which was transcribed and provided by Podgist, Mendez's co-author, Mark Hewitt, said Mendez provided a "very, very vivid portrayal" of Charles Manson. Mendez said Charles Manson displayed an overall sense of paranoia about anyone entering his cell, and therefore rarely left his cell for showers or time in the yard. When he did leave his cell, he asked others, including Mendez, to let him know if anyone entered the cell while he was gone.
Willie Mendez also said Charles Manson, who had an abundance of money, was "very generous" with his fellow inmates, and often bought them soup and other foods.
During the "True Murder" interview, Hewitt also revealed Manson confided in Willie Mendez about his childhood. According to Mendez, Charles' mother was only 16 years old when he was born. On numerous occasions, she reportedly left him for days or weeks at a time.
Former inmate says Casey Anthony knew details about Caylee's death that she shouldn't have
On July 16, 2008, Casey Anthony was arrested on charges of child neglect and interference with a police investigation in relation to the disappearance of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. As reported by Biography, Casey was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated murder, child abuse, and providing false information to police in October of that same year, although Caylee's body would not be found until nearly two months later.
Although she was convicted of lying to police and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine, Anthony was ultimately found not guilty of murder. She was released from jail 10 days after the conclusion of her trial.
As reported by Biography, Caylee's murder was never solved, and despite being found not guilty, Anthony remains under a cloud of suspicion. Information provided by one of Anthony's fellow inmates was specifically disturbing and may suggest Casey knew details about Caylee's death that she shouldn't have known.
As reported by ABC News, Anthony told fellow inmate Robyn Adams that Caylee's body was found wrapped in a blanket inside a black garbage bag. However, Casey Anthony was never told about the blanket. In fact, only a handful of law enforcement and medical examiner's personnel knew about the blanket.
ABC News reports the contents of the bag, which included the blanket, were not disclosed to the public until one month after Casey Anthony discussed the details with Adams.
Susan Smith's former cellmate said she was in denial about killing her children
On June 22, 1995, Susan Smith was convicted of murder in the drowning deaths of her 3-year-old and 14-month-old sons. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. As reported by AETV, Smith made headlines again five years later when it was revealed that she had a sexual relationship with a male prison guard.
Although Susan Smith confessed to killing her children, her former cellmate said she was in denial. As reported by In Touch Weekly, Christie Smith said Susan had an album with photos of her sons and her former husband. While looking through the photos, she would "talk" to her sons and reassure them that their father would "take care of" them.
Christie said Smith was "very delusional" and would often "have conversations like the kids were still alive." In Touch Weekly reports Christie eventually confronted Susan about her delusions and told her that her "kids are not going to come back."
Christie also revealed Susan sought attention from men to keep her mind off what she had done to her children. However, following her affair with a male guard, she was transferred to another prison — where she no longer had access to men. As reported by International Business Times, Susan Smith turned to drugs to cope with the reality of the crimes she committed. According to Christie, it became her responsibility to provide her cellmate with a steady supply of illegal drugs.
Jodi Arias said she had an accomplice, according to former cellmates
In 2013, Jodi Arias was convicted of murder in the death of her boyfriend Travis Alexander. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Although Arias claimed she killed Travis in self-defense, the sheer brutality of the crime, which included dozens of stab wounds and a gunshot to the head, convinced the jury otherwise.
As reported by Q News Hub, Jodi Arias' former cellmate, Donavan Bering, said she does not believe Jodi's claims of self-defense, either. In fact, she believes her former cellmate "is a cold-blooded killer" who "would do it again" given the chance.
Bering shared a cell with Jodi Arias and Tracy Brown for six months in 2016. Five years later, Bering and Brown are speaking out and sharing their observations about Arias' behavior and personality.
ET Online reports Jodi Arias manipulated Bering and Brown and ultimately convinced them to "do her bidding in and out of jail." The former cellmates said Arias has a talent for convincing "anybody to do whatever she wanted." Both women said Jodi told them she had an accomplice in the murder of Travis Alexander.