BATON ROUGE, La. (Associated Press) — A man incarcerated for 47 years, longer than any other inmate in Louisiana’s state prison, gained his freedom on Thursday after Gov. Kathleen Blanco commuted his life sentence for second-degree murder.
Eugene Tanniehill arrived at the Angola prison in 1960, after being convicted of clubbing a man to death in north Louisiana with a pipe. He walked out of the gates a 73-year-old born again Christian, “the bishop of Angola”: a popular prison minister known for his rousing sermons.
“He was so effective as a preacher,” Warden Burl Cain said. “He preached nonviolence and he preached to repent, to live a peaceful, moral life. He had a great impact on our prison.”
Cain said Tanniehill flew with an acquaintance to Chicago, and planned to preach at a church in Wheaton, Ill., this weekend. Tanniehill has lined up a job at a church in New York, where he hopes to deter young men from getting involved in crime, Cain said.
Blanco commuted Tanniehill’s sentence after the state parole and pardon boards recommended his release. Cain also sent a letter to the governor, arguing that Tanniehill has reformed and should be released.
Cain said Tanniehill’s piety and kindness made him a favorite among guards and prisoners. Guards wept as Tanniehill left the prison grounds Thursday morning, Cain said, and one assistant warden handed him a $100 bill. Tanniehill delivered his final sermon in a prison chapel on Wednesday night, to a crowd of 800 cheering prisoners.
“He’s in perfect health, he jogs two miles a day, he’s sharp as a tack. He quotes Bible scripture and he’s just an incredible man,” Cain said.
Tanniehill confessed to the Grant Parish killing when he was 25. He spent four years in a local jail, then arrived at Angola — then known as one of the nation’s most violent lockups — to serve the life sentence for the killing, plus 25 years for the robbery.
Tanniehill was quick to take responsibility for the murder he committed.
“Every time the crime is brought up, it makes me repent again,” he said in a 1995 interview.
His story was featured in “The Farm,” the award-winning 1998 documentary about life at Angola.
August 16, 2007
Lyndon
6 responses to “After 47 years, convicted murderer set free”
Kiara Deloch
August 17th, 2007 at 20:10
To God be the Glory!!!!! God is still in the miracle working business. Bishop I am so blessed to have met and known you. I know you will be just fine, you are God’s child and have the favor of God on your life. Be Blessed….God is GOOD!!!
Tara Wilson
June 19th, 2008 at 10:07
Blessings to you Bishop.
Safi L. Wright
October 29th, 2008 at 16:08
Bishop,
My husband Albert Wright (Tweed) knew you at Angola. He is now free as of March 2007 and living in Northern California. There is so much to share. Please contact us via my email address or his which is tweed4god@yahoo.com.
God continues to sit on the throne,
Slw
Jamie
October 21st, 2010 at 22:33
Bishop I was truly blessed by your testimony when I watched you on Praise the Lord..Just proves how Mighty and Amazing God is and I am really encouranged to run on In Jesus Name…
Pastor Agnes Johnson
December 9th, 2010 at 22:05
We were so touched by your testimony on TBN with Carmen,
that we would like to ask you to come to our church to preach. Because the miracle that God gave to you will definitely encourage other Christians that our God is
a Great and Mighty, and He specializes in doing impossible things.
Angel santos
January 5th, 2012 at 20:48
I had the honor and the privalege to meet the man of God. at anchor House christian center located in 1041 bergen st. brooklyn ny. your presence blessed me through the spirit of the most high that dwells inside of you. to God be all the Glory and may he give you abundance in life and years to come to bring the word of the almighty for those who are still in darkness in Jesus name Amen.