Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Herbert Parsell was killed during an inmate escape attempt at the Connecticut State Prison in Wethersfield.
Three inmates reported that they were ill after breakfast. The inmates were ordered to the report to the infirmary, but they instead joined a group of inmates reporting to work at the maintenance shop where Guard Parsell was stationed. They planned to escape through the shop and scale a wall outside that they knew was unguarded at that time of the morning.
When the three inmates arrived at the shop, two of them tackled Guard Parsell. Five other inmates came to Guard Parsell's assistance, giving him time to sound an alarm throughout the prison, but they were eventually repelled by the two inmates who had staged the attack. The two inmates set upon Guard Parsell again and beat him about the head with wrenches before help could arrive. The three inmates then barricaded themselves in the shop.
When prison officials arrived, they pumped tear gas into the shop to encourage the inmates to surrender. Twenty minutes after the attack on Guard Parsell's, the three inmates were subdued and taken back to their cells. Guard Parsell was rushed to St. Francis Hospital, where we was declared dead on arrival from severe head injuries.
All three prisoners were convicted of murdering Guard Parsell and executed by electrocution on October 1, 1946.
Guard Parsell had served with the Connecticut Department of Correction for eleven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, his son, two step-children, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-0BCE45BC- Stewardship
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Parsell gave the Connecticut Department of Correction 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wethersfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Parsell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Herbert Orlando Parsell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Connecticut Department of Correction, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert Orlando Parsell's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert Orlando Parsell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert Orlando Parsell is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert Orlando Parsell was killed by blunt object; wrench.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Connecticut Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
