Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois
End of Watch Thursday, January 11, 1973
Add to My HeroesJames P. Zeiger
Correctional Officer James Zeiger was stabbed to death while walking the 8th Gallery of Cell House B at the Stateville Correctional Center.
An inmate attacked him from behind, stabbing him eight times with a knife, inflicting a fatal wound to the heart. The inmate then threw Correctional Officer Zeiger over the rail to the concrete floor 40 feet below.
The suspect was denied parole in 2001 and later died while still incarcerated.
Correctional Officer Zeiger had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for three years. He was survived by his wife and eight children.
Bio
- Age 43
- Tour 3 years
- Badge 373
Incident Details
- Cause Stabbed
- Weapon Edged weapon; Knife
- Offender Died in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 54 ReflectionsDaddy, 52 long years gone by without you. I miss your face, your laugh, your quirky sense of humor, but mostly, I just miss you. Rest in peace, Dad. You now have mom and your son Joey with you, our guardian angels. I love you, just wanted to let you know.
Linda Wells
daughter
January 17, 2025
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Allen "Noochie" Credeur
Rayne Police Department, LA
EOW: May 5, 2025

Special Deputy Sheriff Larry Henderson, Jr.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 2, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Brandon Ray Sikes
Columbia County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: April 26, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Jesse Perez
Dawson County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 22, 2025

Captain Helio Armando Garcia, III
South Fulton Police Department, GA
EOW: April 16, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Melissa Pollard
Wood County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 9, 2025

Deputy Sheriff William May
Walton County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 2, 2025

Police Officer Osmar Rodarte
Marysville Police Department, CA
EOW: March 26, 2025

Sergeant Grant J. Candies
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: March 23, 2025