Roll of Honor
Incident
Warden Patrick Curran and Deputy Warden Robert Fromhold were stabbed to death by two members of a religious group that was upset with prison restrictions at Holmesburg Prison. The two had planned in detail the murder of Deputy Warden Fromhold for his refusal to grant more meeting time to the group in the prison gym. The suspects created a fake pass which they gave to a rookie guard who was filling in for a regular guard at the prison. The pass indicated they were allowed to see Deputy Warden Fromhold. When they entered his office the two closed the door and attacked him as he sat at his desk, stabbing him several times. Warden Curran and another officer heard the commotion from across the hall and went to assist Deputy Warden Fromhold. Warden Curran was stabbed in the back by one of the inmates in the rescue attempt. Deputy Warden Fromhold succumbed to his wounds at the scene and Warden Curran succumbed to his wounds en route to a local hospital. One of the two suspects was in prison for the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Joseph Kelly on February 21, 1971. The other was in prison for the murder of Sergeant Frank R. Von Colln of Fairmount Park Police on August 29, 1970. After the murders of Deputy Warden Fromhold and Warden Curran both suspects were sentenced to life in prison. As of June 20, 2020, they were in prison. In 1995 a new prison facility was named the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in honor of Warden Curran and Deputy Warden Fromhold.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-1035D04D- Stewardship
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- 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.
Warden Curran served with the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warden Curran.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Warden Patrick N. Curran 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Philadelphia Department of Prisons, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Patrick N. Curran's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick N. Curran Compares
Offender Outcome
Both sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick N. Curran is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick N. Curran was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Philadelphia Department of Prisons are honored on badge.nw.
