Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Owen Davenport was stabbed to death in the prison yards of the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The 23-year-old inmate, serving a five year sentence for a 1954 larceny conviction, stabbed Lieutenant Davenport in the throat with a home-made knife. He said he was high on smuggled drugs and had know memory of the incident. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in 1958. On May 4, 1967, he and three other inmates were charged with holding a guard hostage at knifepoint in an effort to escape from Eddyville State Penitentiary. Lieutenant Davenport had served with the Kentucky Department of Corrections for 13 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-9BE1CE78- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Owen. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Davenport gave the Kentucky Department of Corrections 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Davenport.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Owen Davenport 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. Owen Davenport's cause is highlighted.
How Owen Davenport Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Owen Davenport is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Owen Davenport was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Kentucky Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
