Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri
End of Watch: Monday, January 20, 1975
Age: 61
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: January 20, 1975
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Two sentenced to 99 years
Lieutenant Harold Atkinson was stabbed to death while assigned to the Missouri State Penitentiary.
After he failed to turn in his radio a search was conducted for him. His body was found several hours later underneath a cell bunk with 69 stab wounds.
Two inmates were convicted of Lieutenant Atkinson's murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Lieutenant Atkinson was a 24-year veteran of the Missouri Department of Corrections.