Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio
End of Watch: Monday, April 19, 1948
Age: 68
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: April 19, 1948
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Executed in 1949
Guard Walter Zimmer and Guard Samuel Chesshir were stabbed to death by an inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus.
The inmate went berserk for no apparent reason, grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen, stabbed both guards and seriously injured another guard before being subdued.
The inmate, who was serving a 15-year sentence for burglary, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and executed in the electric chair on February 2nd, 1949.
Guard Zimmer had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for six years. He was survived by his wife and seven children.