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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
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tennessee Department of Correction has lost 14 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Debra is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Debra is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Debra is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2019, 1 officer at Tennessee Department of Correction was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1937, with 2.
In 2019, 4 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 2019, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2019, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Debra was 64. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Tennessee Department of Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 36.3 and 55.3; the middle age was 42.5. Debra had served 38 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Debra was 64. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Debra had served 38 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Debra was 64. 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. Debra had served 38 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Debra was 64. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Debra had served 38 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 27.3% of these deaths at Tennessee Department of Correction, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 18.2%.
August holds 10.2% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Wednesdays: 14.9%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 78.6% of all 14 deaths at Tennessee Department of Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 9.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
Her people
Tennessee Department of Correction has 14 officers remembered here, Debra among them.
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S. A. Walden Apr 20, 1893
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Willoughby Howard Nelson Jul 27, 1894
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Joseph Lillard Simms
Mar 12, 1937
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Glenn E. Johnston
Oct 22, 1937
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William Lonnie Cox
Nov 9, 1951
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Ernest Simpson Massengill Dec 6, 1957
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Robert Burns
Feb 11, 1978
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Ronald W. Moore Aug 29, 1981
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Donald G. Gammons
Jul 2, 1984
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James Franklin McPeters
Jul 2, 1984
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Frederick Gayle Hyatt
Nov 8, 2003
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Wayne Thomas Morgan
Aug 9, 2005
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Debra Kay Porter-Johnson
Aug 7, 2019
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Dustin Pedigo
Feb 25, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
