Mississippi Department of Corrections, Mississippi
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 18, 1989
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: July 18, 1989
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Shank
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Correctional Officer Argentra Cotton was stabbed to death by a maximum security inmate in the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi.
The inmate had escaped from his cell-block and stabbed Officer Cotton to death with a shank. The inmate attacked Officer Cotton from behind and stabbed him several times in the neck and back.
Another officer was able to draw the inmate's attention away from Officer Cotton long enough for Officer Cotton to escape into the control tower. The inmate was taken into custody a short time later. Officer Cotton was transported to Bolivar County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
The suspect was charged with Officer Cotton's murder and was sentenced to death.