Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 12, 1974
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: March 12, 1974
Weapon Used: Edged weapon
Suspect Info: Killed
Lieutenant Luther Fails was stabbed to death by an inmate at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility at 1240 Ross Road in Atmore.
He and two other guards were escorting a 24-year-old inmate from the exercise yard back to his cell when he suddenly attacked them with a knife. Another guard killed the inmate with a blow to his head. All three guards were injured in the attack.
The inmate had a history of attacking guards.
Lieutenant Fails was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Alabama Department of Corrections for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and four daughters.