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Robert L. Taylor
Agency patch
Superintendent

Robert L. Taylor

Illinois Department of Corrections — Springfield, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch September 3, 1987
Age 44
The Vigil Panel 293 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 31

Incident

Superintendent Robert Taylor was assaulted, stabbed and beaten to death by four inmates in the South Cell House of the Pontiac Correctional Center. Superintendent Taylor was stabbed with a 10-inch shank two times in the chest and four times in the back and suffered several blows to the head with a pipe. Two inmates were sentenced to death and the other two inmates received life sentences. On January 11, 2003, the outgoing governor granted clemency to all 167 Illinois death row inmates as one of his last acts in office. Both inmates' sentences were commuted to life without parole.

Survivors

Superintendent Taylor was survived by his wife, son, three daughters, mother, stepfather, four brothers and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Superintendent Taylor served with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Superintendent Taylor.

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

Agency

Department Illinois Department of Corrections
Type Corrections
Location Springfield, Sangamon County, IL
Platform Identity illicorr.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 1987
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 44. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Illinois Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years

Superintendent Robert L. Taylor

Illinois Department of Corrections · End of Watch September 3, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E

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