Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force, Florida
End of Watch: Thursday, January 15, 1953
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: January 15, 1953
Weapon Used: Blunt object
Suspect Info: Three convicted of murder
Guard Grant Dohner and was killed and Guard John Gradon was mortally wounded during an escape attempt of three inmates at the Loxahatchee Road Prison. A 22-year-old inmate hit both guards on the top of their heads with a stove poker, fracturing their skulls. Guard Dohner died at the scene. Guard Gradon died two weeks later. All three were serving terms for robbery.
All three were convicted of second degree murder. The killer was sentenced to life. Another was sentenced to 30 years and the third to 20 years.