James C. Vanneter

Virginia Department of Corrections — Richmond, VA

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch January 18, 1965

Age 65

The Vigil Panel 100 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Corrections Employee James Vanneter and Assistant Superintendent Hugh Johnson were stabbed to death while working at the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond. The 30-year-old inmate, who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction in 1952, had created an 8-inch shank out of a large file. He was working in the clothing shop when he suddenly ran to the superintendent's office and stabbed a clerk in the stomach, wounding him. He then ran to the industrial shop, where he stabbed Superintendent Johnson in the stomach and chest. Superintendent Johnson succumbed to his wounds the following day. After stabbing Superintendent Johnson, the inmate ran to the prison hospital, where he stabbed the prison doctor, James Vanneter, in the face, arm, and chest before being subdued by correctional officers. The inmate, charged with two counts of murder, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was released from prison in 1970 after the Virginia Supreme Court overturned his 1952 murder conviction. On December 30, 1971, he shot and killed two men in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison on May 16, 2002. Doctor Vanneter was a United States Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-1DC86C08
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Corrections Employee Vanneter served with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Virginia Department of Corrections

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity vdcorr.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1965

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Released in 1970

Military Service

James C. Vanneter served in the Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Corrections Employee James C. Vanneter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Virginia Department of Corrections, 8 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Department of Corrections

of 16 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious