Biography
Lonnie McLucas was a Bridgeport, Connecticut member of the Black Panther Party and the only New Haven defendant convicted at trial. Arrested in Salt Lake City about a month after the May 1969 killing of Alex Rackley, he admitted firing a shot under the direction of George Sams. A racially mixed jury acquitted him of the most serious charges — including the capital charge of kidnapping resulting in death — but convicted him of conspiracy to commit murder after a then-record 33-hour deliberation. He was sentenced on September 18, 1970 to 12 to 15 years, of which he served only a few years, and died in 2016.
John Bancroft’s letter records approved visits to McLucas at Somers Correctional Institution beginning October 1, 1970 and his subsequent transfer to Montville Correctional Center by November 12. Bancroft reports denial of a November 14 visit and further attempts to regain visiting permission. The transfer was within continuing custody, not an executed release. The Black Panther, December19,1970 volV no25, original PDF page 9. Source: https://washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1970-12-19-bpp-.pdf#page=9
