Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Patricia Ross was beaten to death by an inmate in a dining facility at the Kentucky State Penitentiary at 266 Water Street in Eddyville. The inmate lured Officer Ross into a food storage area and then beat her to death with a 10-pound commercial can opener when she refused his sexual advances. He also beat another inmate, leaving him critically injured when he walked in on the incident. The inmate, serving a 10-year sentence for first-degree assault, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on February 1, 1985. He received an additional 20 years for assaulting the inmate. In 1988, his conviction and sentence were overturned. In 1994, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 25 years. He died in prison on July 3, 2009. Officer Ross had served with the Kentucky Department of Corrections for three years.
Survivors
She was survived by her 15-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-97366BE5- 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 Ross gave the Kentucky Department of Corrections 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Ross.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Employee Patricia Ross 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kentucky Department of Corrections, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patricia Ross's cause is highlighted.
How Patricia Ross Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patricia Ross is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patricia Ross was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Kentucky Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
