Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois
End of Watch: Thursday, January 11, 1973
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 373
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: January 11, 1973
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Correctional Officer James Zeiger was stabbed to death while walking the 8th Gallery of Cell House B at the Stateville Correctional Center.
An inmate attacked him from behind, stabbing him eight times with a knife, inflicting a fatal wound to the heart. The inmate then threw Correctional Officer Zeiger over the rail to the concrete floor 40 feet below.
The suspect was denied parole in 2001 and later died while still incarcerated.
Correctional Officer Zeiger had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for three years. He was survived by his wife and eight children.