Roll of Honor
Ray Tyree Singleton
Incident
Prison Guard Ray Singleton was stabbed to death at the start of a planned riot and attempted prison break at Folsom Prison on Thanksgiving Day. Guard Singleton was guarding prisoners as they moved out of the prison library after the showing of a movie when the signal for the start of the riot was given. Guard Singleton was stabbed to death by several of the prisoners. The riot continued for two days. Local officers and militia were brought in to quell the uprising. Three prisoners were killed and 13 were wounded as officers took control of the prison. Prison Guard Charles Gilles also died during the riot when he suffered a fatal heart attack while manning the front gate. The six ringleaders of the riot were convicted of murder in connection with Guard Singleton's death. When the jury sentenced them only to life in prison the local district attorney filed murder charges in connection with the death of a fellow prisoner who was killed during the riot. The six prisoners were convicted and sentenced to death for the prisoner's murder. Five of the six were executed by hanging in January 1930. One of the prisoners who was executed had originally been sent to prison for the murder of Constable George Boyle, of the Fresno County Constable's Office, on November 18th, 1924.
Survivors
Guard Singleton was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-37741158- 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.
Prison Guard Singleton served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prison Guard Singleton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Prison Guard Ray Tyree Singleton 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Tyree Singleton's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Tyree Singleton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Tyree Singleton is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Tyree Singleton was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
