Imagine dying in prison, only to wake up and argue your sentence has ended. That’s exactly what convicted murderer Benjamin Schreiber tried to do.
Schreiber, jailed for the brutal 1990s killing of John Terry, collapsed in 2015 from septic poisoning. Doctors restarted his heart five times, despite a “do not resuscitate” order. His brother later said: “If he is in pain, ease it, but otherwise let him pass.”

After recovering, Schreiber argued in court that his brief death fulfilled his life sentence. But judges rejected the claim. One ruling stated: “He is either alive, and must remain in prison, or he is dead, and the case is moot.”
Schreiber remained behind bars until his death from natural causes in 2023. His strange legal fight still sparks debate: Can a moment of death truly end a life sentence?
This story raises a haunting question—what does “life in prison” really mean? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.