Greenville County Department of Public Safety - Detention Division, South Carolina
End of Watch Monday, August 3, 1970
Add to My HeroesJames Perry Bagwell
Jailer James Bagwell was stabbed to death inside the old Greenville County Jail, located at 32 East Broad Street, at approximately 1:05 am.
He and another jailer attempted to move an inmate from a cell with multiple prisoners into an individual cell when the man stabbed them both. The prisoner was being transferred because he had complained of being sick.
The man was subdued inside the jail by another jailer and a Greenville City police officer who was in the jail at the time.
The 23-year-old subject was convicted of Jailer Bagwell's murder and sentenced to life.
Jailer Bagwell had served with the Greenville County Jail for 18 months. He had previously served with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office for 11 years and the Liberty Police Department. He was survived by his wife, two sons, four daughters, seven brothers, four sisters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Bio
- Age 63
- Tour 12 years, 6 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Stabbed
- Weapon Edged weapon; Knife
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsThis was my beloved grandfather who was killed when I was 7 years old. He was my hero, the man I loved to hang out with. My heart was broken.
Susan Hunter Pressley
Granddaughter
February 14, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024