HomeCrimeInmate had much bigger plans for his prison killing spree

Inmate had much bigger plans for his prison killing spree

Arizona inmate shares motivation behind prison killing spree

Background: Arizona State Prison Complex Tucson, Cimarron Unit, in Tuscon, Ariz. (Google Maps). Inset: Ricky Wassenaar (Arizona Department of Corrections).

An Arizona inmate suspected of killing three other inmates during a prison fight in April spoke on the record to a reporter and said he was aiming for a bigger body count.

Ricky Wassenaar, 62, spoke to a reporter at KPHO, a local CBS affiliate, for a podcast that focused on his alleged role in an April 4 fight at the Arizona State Prison Complex Tuscon, Cimarron Unit that resulted in the deaths of three other inmates — Saul Alvarez, Thorne Harnage, and Donald Lashley. In his conversation, Wassenaar openly admitted to the alleged murders — and said he was aiming for an even higher number.

“My goal was at least seven, but I was hoping for a baker’s dozen,” he said, using a colloquialism for the number 13.

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Wassenaar has been incarcerated since 1987 after being convicted of armed robbery. He was part of the infamous 2004 attempted jailbreak at the Lewis Complex that turned into a 15-day standoff. Two guards were held hostage, including one female guard who was raped several times.

In the KPHO podcast interview, Wassenaar said that he specifically targeted inmates who were convicted child sex offenders. One of the alleged victims, Alvarez, was convicted of first-degree murder. Wassenaar told the reporter that his target “kidnapped and raped and murdered a 15-year-old little girl.” He added, “I did society a favor by killing that maggot.”

Harnage and Lashley were both in prison for sexual conduct with a minor; Lashley was also convicted of molestation of a child.

Wassenaar told KPHO that he had “several targets, all child molesters.” But his alleged killing spree was limited because, as he explained, “I jumped the gun.”

He described his position before his alleged attack.

“The way the prison is situated when they let out for breakfast or meal times, they lock us in what they call a chute,” he said. “It’s a cage outside the chow hall. Once we’re locked in, there’s nowhere to run to, we’re all in there.”

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