Ernest Lageson, author of the bestselling book, Battle at Alcatraz, A Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock, passed October 25, 2019, in Kensington, California. In his book, he told the story of the 1946 escape attempt by six inmates. It was one of the bloodiest uprisings in the history of American prisons. During the three-day siege, inmates took nine guards hostage. When it appeared their escape attempt was failing, the inmates shot all nine hostages. One of the guards, Ernie Lageson’s father, survived.
Ernie was fourteen at the time; he and his family lived on Alcatraz Island—in the apartments for employees. He drew from personal insights as he told the story.
For many years, Ernie traveled to the Alcatraz Island as the guest author, signing his books and sharing his unique knowledge of the famous island’s history with visitors and tourists. Ernie Lageson was 87.
