An inmate serving a life sentence at the state prison in Tucson is accused in an attack Friday morning that left three fellow inmates dead, authorities say.
Ricky Wassenaar is the sole suspect in the attack in the prison’s Cimarron Unit, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry says.
In 2005, Wassenaar was convicted on 19 charges, including kidnapping, dangerous or deadly assault by a prisoner, aggravated assault, sexual assault and first-degree escape for his involvement in a 2004 hostage situation at the state prison near Buckeye, the department said.
Wassenaar was already serving a 28-year sentence when he attempted the escape in January 2004 along with fellow inmate Steven Coy.
They took hostages. But unable to get out of the facility, the pair remained inside the facility, prompting a standoff that lasted 15 days. It became the longest prison-hostage situation in U.S. history.
Coy, already serving seven life terms, was sentenced to seven more.
Wassenaar
No motive or details of Friday’s deadly attack have been released by the corrections department.
The three slain inmates are identified as:
- Saul Alvarez, who has been in prison since 2004. Alvarez was sentenced out of Maricopa County for first degree murder.
- Thorne Harnage, who has been in prison since 2024. Harnage was sentenced out of Pima County for sexual conduct with a minor.
- Donald Lashley, who has been in prison since 2023. He was sentenced out of Pima County for sexual conduct with a minor and molestation of a child.
The department’s inspector general’s office has started the criminal investigation into the attack.
The initial investigation shows that Wassenaar initiated the attack and that he acted alone.
The investigation continues.
