Lorena Yanira Schulte
Agency patch
Corrections Employee

Lorena Yanira Schulte

Iowa Department of Corrections — Des Moines, IA
Felonious
End of Watch March 23, 2021
Age 50
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 175 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Nurse Lorena Schulte and Correctional Officer Robert McFarland were assaulted and beaten to death by two inmates in the Anamosa State Penitentiary infirmary during an escape attempt.

The inmates had developed a ruse to gain access to the infirmary by claiming to be there as part of the prison repair program. Once inside, they attacked Nurse Schulte and Officer McFarland with hammers, inflicting fatal skull fractures on both. Another inmate inside the infirmary attempted to protect Nurse Schulte and Officer McFarland but was also attacked and suffered a skull fracture.

The two inmates then attempted to use a grinder to break through the exterior window and protective bars but were unsuccessful. They briefly took another nurse hostage before fleeing back into the prison, where they were subdued. The two inmates had been serving lengthy sentences for robbery convictions. Both were subsequently charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and abduction. Both inmates were sentenced to life in prison for the two murders.

Nurse Schulte was in a position that gave her primary responsibility for the custody and security of convicted criminal offenders.

Nurse Schulte had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for 14 years.

Survivors

She is survived by her parents, two sisters, a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-BCC36CFE
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.
Corrections Employee Schulte gave the Iowa Department of Corrections 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Schulte.

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

Agency

Location Des Moines, IA
Platform Identity idcorr.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 2021
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 50
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Blunt object; Hammer
Offender Life in Prison

Corrections Employee Lorena Yanira Schulte 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Iowa Department of Corrections, 6 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Iowa Department of Corrections
6
of 14 officers
42.9% Felonious
IA — Statewide
129
of 226 officers
57.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lorena Yanira Schulte's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Lorena Yanira Schulte Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
14
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Life in Prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lorena Yanira Schulte is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lorena Yanira Schulte was killed by blunt object; hammer.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location