Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, June 3, 1985
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: June 3, 1985
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Corrections Officer Minnie Houston was stabbed to death at the Ellis I unit at 1697 FM 980 in Huntsville.
She was supervising seven inmate trustees at the dining hall of the maximum security Ellis I Unit when she was attacked by an inmate with a 15-inch kitchen knife. She attempted to disarm the inmate but was stabbed eight times and killed.
The suspect was sentenced to death for Officer Houston's murder but died in prison in 2000.
Officer Houston prevented the escape of two death row inmates the previous year as they attempted to jump a prison fence.
Officer Houston had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division for almost 6 years. She was survived by her three sons.