Lieutenant Luther F. Fails, Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama

Lieutenant Luther F. Fails

Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama

End of Watch Tuesday, March 12, 1974

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Luther F. Fails

Lieutenant Luther Fails was stabbed to death by an inmate at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility at 1240 Ross Road in Atmore.

He and two other guards were escorting a 24-year-old inmate from the exercise yard back to his cell when he suddenly attacked them with a knife. Another guard killed the inmate with a blow to his head. All three guards were injured in the attack.

The inmate had a history of attacking guards.

Lieutenant Fails was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Alabama Department of Corrections for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and four daughters.

Bio

Age 53
Tour 21 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon
Offender Killed

correctional Facility, prisoner custody

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Lt. Fails,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy

Fair Winds And Following Seas

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

March 12, 2024