Inside America’s Most Notorious Prison: How Two Brutal Murders Led to the Birth of a Supermax Hell
Hidden deep in the desolate plains of Colorado sits ADX Florence, the nation’s only ‘supermax’ federal prison—a fortress built for the worst of the worst. Inside its concrete walls are some of the most dangerous criminals in American history: ruthless gang leaders, unrepentant killers, and those deemed too lethal for standard incarceration. But what most don’t know is that this high-security dungeon was born out of blood—two savage murders that shook the prison system to its core.
A Brutal Crime That Changed Everything
In 1983, two convicted killers—Thomas Silverstein and Clayton Fountain—separately orchestrated the murders of two correctional officers inside the maximum-security federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. The attacks were vicious, calculated, and sent a message: these men feared nothing.
Both Silverstein and Fountain were already dangerous. Silverstein, initially imprisoned for bank robbery, had been convicted of murdering a fellow inmate (a conviction that was later overturned) before committing another killing behind bars. Fountain, a former Marine, had murdered his commanding officer and went on to slaughter three fellow prisoners. Both were affiliated with the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood—Silverstein as a high-ranking ‘shot caller,’ and Fountain as an eager enforcer.
Their audacious killings of correctional officers forced the Federal Bureau of Prisons into an immediate reckoning: Was it possible to control inmates who would kill without hesitation? The answer came in the form of a radical shift in prison management—total isolation.
The Punishment: A Living Death
Following the murders, Silverstein and Fountain were subjected to a punishment unlike any seen before in the U.S. penal system. They were placed in complete isolation—stripped down to their boxers, confined to barren cells with nothing but a mattress, a sink, and a toilet. The lights blazed 24/7, their solid steel doors remained shut, and no human contact was permitted—not even letters from family. The only interaction they had was with guards who refused to acknowledge their existence.
For nine months, they were ghosts, trapped in a sensory deprivation nightmare. But prison officials soon realized something chilling: even in total isolation, these men found ways to resist.
Silverstein refused to return his food trays, knowing guards couldn’t starve him. Rather than break, he used the time to strengthen his mind, practicing ‘mental travel’ to relive past memories, exercising obsessively, and eventually teaching himself to read and write. Fountain, on the other hand, found solace in religion, pursuing a degree and seeking forgiveness. In time, he even became so devout that the Catholic Church was on the verge of accepting him as a Trappist monk.
The Birth of Supermax
The killings of 1983 forced the Federal Bureau of Prisons to rethink its entire approach. No longer would hardened criminals be integrated into the general prison population. Instead, those deemed too dangerous to exist among others would be placed in a new kind of prison: one designed to eliminate all chances of violence.
By 1994, the solution materialized—ADX Florence, a facility designed to control the uncontrollable. Here, the most notorious criminals, including terrorists, serial killers, and cartel bosses, are locked away in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day. Their interactions with other prisoners are nonexistent, their daily routines tightly monitored, their existence reduced to a sterile, soundless void.
The Psychological Toll: Is Supermax Justice or Torture?
While ADX Florence promised absolute security, it also raised questions: Does solitary confinement rehabilitate, or does it merely break prisoners psychologically? Critics argue that such extreme isolation inflicts irreversible mental damage, turning inmates into ticking time bombs of paranoia and rage. Studies show that recidivism rates for those released from solitary are significantly higher than those from the general prison population.
Silverstein, who remained in isolation for nearly 30 years before his death in 2019, often spoke of the inhumanity of extreme confinement. He described being ‘four-pointed’—chained to a slab, limbs stretched out, left to suffer without food, water, or dignity. Fountain, who died in 2014, accepted his fate with religious devotion, but many believe his transformation came too late.
The Legacy of Marion’s Deadly Day
The murders that birthed ADX Florence set a precedent for how the U.S. handles its most dangerous criminals. The question remains: Is isolation the only way to manage those with no regard for human life, or does it create something even worse—men so broken by loneliness and despair that they no longer function as human beings?
Prison reform advocates argue for alternatives, but one fact remains undeniable: Without the actions of Silverstein and Fountain, America’s most infamous prison might never have existed. And within its cold, silent walls, the echoes of their crimes—and their punishment—still reverberate.
