Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama
End of Watch: Friday, January 12, 1990
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: January 12, 1990
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Shank
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Correctional Officer William Donaldson was stabbed to death by a prisoner at the West Jefferson Correctional Institute when he entered a segregation unit to dispense medicine.
The suspect who murdered Officer Donaldson had been originally sent to prison for the shooting death of Fairfield Police Officer Myron Massey in 1985 during a traffic stop. Some time after murdering Corrections Officer Donaldson the suspect committed suicide.
The West Jefferson Correctional Institute was later renamed in honor of Officer Donaldson. Officer Donaldson was survived by his wife and daughter.