High Desert Blood
The 1980 New Mexico Prison Riot and the Tragedy of the Williams Brothers
High Desert Blood covers the 1980 New Mexico prison riot and two brothers with the unfortunate luck of getting caught in the middle.
After a failed arson attempt in service of his father’s insurance fraud scheme, Gary Williams entered the Penitentiary of New Mexico the day before a deadly riot wreaked havoc on the institution. Gary’s younger brother, Jeff, who had a history of criminal pursuits, was also at the prison at the time of the riot. The chaos that ensued included the murder of over thirty inmates, the assault of dozens more, and several guards being held hostage. This book covers not only the details of the riot itself but the broader context that led to it.
The story is told through several lenses. The Williams brothers are a focal point, their backstories providing entry into the greater story of the prison. Other lenses include former guards who worked at the prison, journalists who covered the riot, and lawyers who defended inmates in various cases. Direct quotes from inmates interviewed by police shed light on the violence of the event as well as the systemic violence that led to the riot. Each perspective makes clearer the system surrounding the prison—one of little funding and mismanagement.
Expanding even further, the story is contextualized within its geographical and historical settings. The arid desert is an environment people can disappear in, and the locals do not ask questions. The history of New Mexico, going back to the Spanish conquistadors, shapes the attitudes of modern Santa Feans and their judicial systems.
A critical in-depth look into the Penitentiary of New Mexico leading up to the 1980 prison riot, High Desert Blood addresses systemic failures and tells the personal stories of individuals and families impacted by the riot.
Reviewed by
Julia Dillman
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
