Corrections Employee Robert George Warnke

Robert George Warnke

Corrections Employee Robert Warnke was killed after being beaten by an inmate yielding an iron bar at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Officer Warnke was performing his early morning duties when the man attacked him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

After falling, the man jumped on Officer Warnke and continued to beat him. The suspect, who had claimed to have murdered 22 people, had also been involved in the murder of Superintendent Harry Minto, of the Oregon Department of Corrections on September 28, 1915. He was hung at Leavenworth Prison for Officer Warnke's murder.

Officer Warnke had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for eight years. He was survived by his wife and son and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Junction City, Kansas.