Roll of Honor
Debra Kay Porter-Johnson
Incident
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson was found murdered in her residence on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on August 7, 2019.
She was attacked by an inmate who then escaped from the facility using a tractor. The escapee, who was serving a sentence for aggravated kidnapping and rape, remained at large for five days before being taken into custody.
The suspect pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and escape. He was sentenced to life without parole.
Administrator Johnson had served with the Tennessee Department of Corrections for 38 years and started her career as a correctional officer.
Survivors
She was survived by three children, her mother, two sisters, one brother, and seven grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-8879C8A0- 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
38 years. You could have gone home.
Correctional Administrator Porter-Johnson gave the Tennessee Department of Correction 38 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Administrator Porter-Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Administrator Debra Kay Porter-Johnson 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tennessee Department of Correction, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Debra Kay Porter-Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Debra Kay Porter-Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life without parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Debra Kay Porter-Johnson is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Debra Kay Porter-Johnson was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
