I Thought I’d Die Inside ADX, America’s Supermax Prison | Eric King

Feb 25, 2026

Eric King, activist and author who spent years in solitary and at ADX Florence, shares his story. He recounts radicalization, the firebombing that led to his sentence, brutal clashes with staff, and life inside supermax isolation. Short, intense stories reveal control units, transfers, and the cost of fighting the system.

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INSIGHT

Police Viewed As Arm Of State Against Poor

King frames police as the arm of state power and sees officers as legitimate targets when enforcing policies that harm poor communities.
His view formed from childhood witnessing evictions and poverty compounded by policing serving bank interests.

INSIGHT

Squatting Taught Minimalism And Happiness

Living off-grid and squatting taught King minimalism and that consumerism isn't necessary for contentment.
He dumpster-dived, slept in squats, and learned happiness is acceptance rather than possessions.

ANECDOTE

Molotov Attack Motivated By Ferguson Solidarity

King describes preparing and throwing Molotov cocktails at a congressman's office in solidarity with Ferguson protests.
The bottles hit the window frame, burned briefly, and did minor damage because of poor construction of the devices.

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Eric King was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after trying to firebomb a government building with Molotov cocktails, but the real story is what happened once the cell door slammed shut. In this episode, he breaks down how a politically motivated arson case turned into nearly 8 years in solitary confinement, brutal clashes with staff, and a fast-track transfer into America’s most notorious federal supermax, ADX. From the mindset it takes to target the government, to the moment he realized he might never see general population again, Eric gives an unfiltered look at control units, isolation, and life in a place built to break you. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens to “the worst of the worst” once they disappear into the federal system, this conversation is your inside look at the cost of that choice.

_____________________________________________ #ianbick #prisonlife #truecrime#prisonstories #inmatelife #jailstories #justicesystem #worstprisons

_____________________________________________ Buy Eric King's Book: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1872

_____________________________________________ Thank you to AVA for sponsoring this episode: Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app and when you join using my promo code LOCKEDIN, you’ll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice.

_____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/

_____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop

_____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 I Was Tortured for Taking On the System 01:08 Growing Up in Poverty, Trauma & Survival Mode 02:43 No Father, No Guidance: My Teenage Meltdowns 03:35 Boxing, Catholic Guilt & My First Taste of Activism 04:44 Why I Risked Everything to Become an Activist 05:51 How Poverty Warped My Mind and My Choices 07:06 Parents, Control & My Teenage Rebellion 07:59 I Almost Became a Monk… Then Walked Away from Religion 08:52 Travel, Drugs & Radical Activism Overseas 10:44 My First Arrest: Direct Action, Violence & Consequences 13:10 Looking Back: Was the Violence Worth It? 15:26 Study Abroad: The First Time I Really Felt Free 16:47 Squatting, Dumpster Diving & Living Completely Off-Grid 18:00 Depression, Death & How I Handled Losing People 21:19 Sponsor: Fix Your Credit with Ava 22:51 Ferguson Protests, Solidarity & the Firebombing 26:11 Inside the Attack: Why I Did It and What Happened 29:56 The Arrest: Investigation, Raids & Serious Charges 32:01 County Jail: My First Real Clash with the System 36:16 Court, Facing Time & Walking Into Prison 39:07 Early Prison Life & Meeting Jared Fogle 43:32 Prison Gangs, Race Lines & Everyday Politics 46:09 Fights with Staff, Retaliation & Payback 47:41 Torture, Extreme Pain & Years of Solitary 52:38 Diesel Therapy: Shackled, Bused & Shipped Across America 55:21 Solitary Confinement: Surviving Years in the Hole 01:03:11 My Federal Trial: Beating the Odds in Court 01:06:12 ADX Florence: How I Ended Up in America’s Dungeon 01:11:20 Inside ADX Supermax: Notorious Inmates & Total Isolation 01:16:16 ADX Survival Guide: Food, Conditions & Staying Sane 01:22:01 Walking Out: Release After Years in Solitary 01:30:09 Cutting Ties with the Past & Staying Out of Prison 01:31:29 Family, Changing Views & What I Really Think of Cops 01:39:33 What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Prison & Violence 01:40:47 The Book, the Mission & What Comes Next

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