1957 Montana Prison Riot - Deer Lidge, MT
Posted by: 
linkys
N 46° 23.502 W 112° 44.147
12T E 366547 N 5139033
Prison uprising that resulted in the death of the prison's assistant warden.
Waymark Code: WM7NTE
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 11/15/2009
Views: 4
This story story in the Montana Standard was run in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the one of the worst prison riots in Montana history.
The riot began on April 16, 1959 when a notorious prisoner, Jerry Myles, and two other convicts managed to seize rifles from several guards. During the 36-hour riot, Deputy Warden Ted Rothe was shot and killed, and 26 prison employees and inmates were taken hostage.
The riot ended when members of the Montana National Guard fired shots from an anti-tank bazooka into the cellblock tower where Miles and the other ringleaders were barricaded, after which Guardsmen stormed the prison and regained control, the only casualties being Myles and another ringleader who died in the tower, apparently carrying out a murder-suicide pact.
Cellbock with catwalks where the riot started.
Assistant Warden Rothe's office where he was murdered by Miles.
Damage to tower caused by bazooka shell that was fired to help quell the riot.
