California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 19, 1971
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: May 19, 1971
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: One sentenced to life; One committed sui
Program Administrator Kenneth Conant was stabbed to death by two inmates in the head with a prison made knife while working at the Central Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Two other prison officials were injured in overpowering the inmates. The inmates, 24, and 28, serving 5 years to life for robbery since 1967, were charged with his murder. There was no known motive.
On August 30, 1972, one inmate, 28, convicted of murder and had a life term added to his sentence. He was denied parole on March 3, 2021. He can have another parole hearing in March of 2024. He is in a prison health care facility in Stockton. The other inmate was declared insane and committed. In 1974 he was adjudged fit to stand trial, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. He was denied parole on February 28, 1980. On September 21, 1982, he hanged himself in his cell.