West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, West Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, October 5, 1972
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: October 5, 1972
Weapon Used: Edged weapon
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Correctional Officer William Quilliams was stabbed to death by an inmate serving a life sentence for murder at the West Virginia State Penitentiary.
He was attempting to break up a fight when the inmate stabbed him. The inmate was convicted of first-degree murder and received another life sentence on June 20, 1973.
Officer Quilliams was a U.S. Army Korean and Vietnam War veteran and had served with the West Virginia Division of Corrections for one year. He was survived by his wife and two children.