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Ohio Correctional Employees Killed in the Line of Duty
| You will not be forgotten! |
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| Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) |
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| Arthur L. Sprouse was hired at the Southern Ohio correctional Facility on August 21, 1972 as a Correctional Officer. He was one of the first officers on hand when the facility was activated. Officer Sprouse was killed in the line of duty on July 24, 1973 during an attempted escape and hostage taking incident perpetrated by inmate Wayne Rainey. (Inmate Rainey was convicted of first degree murder and is serving a life sentence. The death penalty was not in force at the time of the incident.) |
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| Gary P. Underwood was hired as a Correctional Officer at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility on March 4, 1973. Officer Underwood was killed in the line of duty on March 4, 1973 during the incident involving inmate Wayne Rainey. |
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| Eric Bowling was hired on January 5, 1976 as a Penal Workshop Supervisor in the Ohio Penal Industries section. Mr. Bowling was killed on February 2, 1984 by inmate Bradley, a former death row prisoner who was released from death row in the early 1970's when Ohios's death penalty was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. He was tried and convicted of aggravated murder and again sentenced to death. He is currently serving his sentence on death row at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. |
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| Beverly Jo Taylor was hired at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility on November 24, 1984 as a teacher of Adult Basic Education. Mrs. Taylor was killed in the line of duty on June 7, 1990 by inmate Eddie Vaughn who worked as a clerk for Mrs. Taylor. Inmate Vaughn was convicted and is serving a life sentence for her murder. |
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| Robert Vallandingham began his career at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility on April 15, 1991. Officer Vallandingham was taken hostage during the riot that began Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993. He was murdered by inmates on April 15, 1993. Inmate riot leaders Carlos Sanders and Jason Robb were individually tried and convicted of aggravated murder for the slaying of Officer Vallandingham and have been sentenced to death. They are currently on death row at the Mansfiled Correctional Institution. |
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| Ohio State Reformatory (OSR) |
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| Urban Wolford died November 3, 1926. Officer Wolford was shot while on his post in the west gate tower on November 2, 1926. His assailant, Phillip Orleck, a former inmate, shot Wolford in an aborted attempt to aid in the escape of another inmate. Orleck was executed on July 18, 1927 at the Ohio Penitentiary. |
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| Frank B. Hanger died October 6, 1932. Officer Hanger was struck in the head with an iron bar by inmate during an escape attempt involving twelve inmates. Inmates Chester Probaski and Merrill Chandler were executed on November 24, 1933 at the Ohio Penitentiary for the murder of Officer Hanger. |
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| John E. Neibel died July 21, 1948. Mr. Neibel, the OSR farm manager, Nolanda, his wife and Phyllis, their 22 year old daughter were murdered after being abducted from their home on the OSR farm on July 20, 1948. The assailants, Robert Daniels and John West were former inmates. They had returned to OSR to seek revenge on another OSR employee, but were unable to find him. The killers then decided to exact their revenge on Mr. Neibel and his family. John West was killed during capture. Daniels was electrocuted January 3, 1949 at the Ohio Penitentiary. |
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| Mansfield Correctional Institution (ManCI) |
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| Thomas Davis Jr. A Corrections Officer for nine years, Officer Davis was assaulted on June 25, 1992 and died the following day. Officer Davis was attacked from behind by inmate Roy Slider, who struck him in the head with a metal lock on a string and then stabbed him. Slider was convicted and is now serving his additional sentence of 12 to 15 years to run consecutive with his life sentance at the Sounthern Ohio Correctional Facility. |
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| W.H. Moorehead was killed in the line of duty on April 21, 1906, during an escape attempt by convict Butler Styles. Styles was executed September 21, 1906 at the Ohio Penitentiary. |
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| Grant Weakly worked at the Ohio Penitentiary brick plant at Junction City, Ohio. He was shot and killed by convicts Patrick Riley and Fred Kellogg on September 2, 1927. Officer Weakley was shot while escorting four prisoners to a dentist's office. The two escapees were apprehended about a mile from New Lexington. |
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| Walter W. Zimmer was hired in 1942 as a Officer at the Ohio Penitentiary. He was killed in the line of duty on August 19, 1948 by inmate John Thomas in an escape attempt from a special cell in the prison hospital. Thomas was executed on February 5, 1949. |
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| Samuel P. Chessir was an Officer at the Ohio Penitentiary on August 19, 1948. Chessir was critically injured by inmate John Thomas during his attempted escape. Chessir later died of his wounds. |
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| Lima Correctional Institution (LCI) |
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| Bonita L. Haynes was hired at the Lima Correctional Institution as a Social Worker on October 11, 1994. Ms. Haynes was assaulted and killed in the evening of August 6, 1995. Inmate Robert Lonberger pled guilty to aggravated murder in the case and was given a life sentence. Inmate John Daniels, who testified against Lonberger received a sentence of 15 years to life for her murder. |
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| Parole and Community Services (APA) |
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| Robert A. White was hired on September 10, 1978 as a Parole Officer assigned to the Cleveland District. He had retired as a Lieutenant from the Cleveland Police Department with 25 years of service. Mr. White was killed while supervising parolees on the East side of Cleveland. Several suspects were arrested, but witnesses could not identify any suspects in court, resulting in no convictions. |
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A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S PRAYER
Lord I ask for courage.
Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me
Where others will not go...
I ask for strength
Strength of body to protect
others
And strength of spirit to lead
others...
I ask for dedication.
Dedication to my job, to do it
well,
Dedication to my community
To keep it safe...
Give me Lord, concern
For others who trust me
And compassion for those who
need me...
And please Lord
Through it all
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