Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ruben Thomas was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution Annex.
At approximately 10:00 pm he was checking on an inmate in one of the prison's dorms when he was attacked. He was stabbed in the neck several times by the inmate who was armed with a shank. The inmate, who was serving a life sentence since 1995 for murdering a college student, then struck another officer in the eye with a sock filled with a heavy item before being taken into custody. On June 19, 2013, the inmate was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death.
Sergeant Thomas was transported to Shands Lake Shore Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Sergeant Thomas had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his young daughter and fiancee, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-D9B4AFA0- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Thomas gave the Florida Department of Corrections 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Thomas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Ruben Howard Thomas, III 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Florida Department of Corrections, 11 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ruben Howard Thomas, III's cause is highlighted.
How Ruben Howard Thomas, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ruben Howard Thomas, III is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ruben Howard Thomas, III was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Florida Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
