Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Rhode Island
End of Watch: Friday, June 22, 1973
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 1 month
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: June 22, 1973
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Correctional Officer Donald Price was stabbed to death in the Medium Security Prison at 12:45 am.
An inmate stabbed him in the back as another inmate drew his attention. Officer Price called for help over the loudspeaker. He was found stabbed eight times. He was transported to the Providence Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
The inmate, 34, who stabbed Officer Price, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on November 30th, 1973. His killer was so dangerous that he was placed in solitary confinement for the next 10 years. He never was allowed to come out of his cell unless he had leg irons and handcuffs on first. He died in prison in 2023. The other inmate was convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to 40 years.
The Medium Security Prison was later renamed the Donald Price Medium Security Facility. The facility was closed in 2011 due to agency budget cuts.
Officer Price had served with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for less than a month. He was survived by his parents and three sisters.