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Samuel P. Chesshir
Incident
Guard Sam Chesshir and Guard Walter Zimmer were stabbed to death by an inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus.
The inmate went berserk for no apparent reason, grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen, stabbed both guards and seriously injured another guard before being subdued. Guard Chesshir succumbed to his wounds three days later.
The inmate, serving a 15-year sentence for burglary, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and executed in the electric chair on February 2nd, 1949.
Guard Chesshir was a U.S. Army WWI veteran and had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Guard Chesshir gave the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Samuel P. Chesshir served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has lost 26 officers; 18 of them killed feloniously.
Samuel is one of 572 officers killed feloniously in OH, 57.6% of the 993 remembered there.
Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Samuel is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1948, 2 officers at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1948, 5 officers in OH were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1916, with 17.
In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Samuel was 54. Of the 18 killed feloniously at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 61.5; the middle age was 44.5. Samuel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Samuel was 54. Of the 552 killed feloniously in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Samuel was 54. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Samuel was 54. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 22.2% of these deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, more than any other month. Thursdays: 27.8%.
April holds 9.6% of these deaths in OH; December holds the most, 9.6%. Thursdays: 15.4%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 26 deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.6% of all 993 deaths in OH, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 0.7% of these deaths.
His people
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has 26 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.
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Cyrus Sells
Jun 9, 1841
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James Fancher Jul 14, 1849
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Daniel Heavey Jan 19, 1865
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Charles B. Lauderbaugh
Nov 18, 1898
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Henry J. Gearhart May 29, 1904
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William H. Moorehead Dec 23, 1905
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Urban Wilford Nov 3, 1926
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Grant Weakley
Sep 2, 1927
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Frank B. Hanger
Oct 6, 1932
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Alfred E. Schmidt Sep 2, 1940
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Walter W. Zimmer
Apr 19, 1948
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Samuel P. Chesshir Apr 22, 1948
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Arthur L Sprouse Jul 24, 1973
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Gary P. Underwood
Jul 24, 1973
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Robert A. White
Apr 27, 1979
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Eric D Bowling Feb 2, 1984
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Beverly Jo Taylor
Jun 7, 1990
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Thomas D. Davis, Jr.
Jun 26, 1992
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Robert B. Vallandingham
Apr 14, 1993
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Dennis Lee Stemen
Jul 5, 1994
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Bonita Haynes
Aug 6, 1996
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Shirlene A. Jenkins
Feb 11, 1997
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Wayne Mitchell
Feb 2, 2001
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Michael Wilson Douds
Apr 5, 2003
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Rodney Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
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Andrew Lansing
Dec 25, 2024
Where
Military Service
Samuel P. Chesshir served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Samuel P. Chesshir’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
