Richard James Burke, a 48-year-old correctional officer at the Florida State Prison in Starke, Florida, tragically lost his life on October 12, 1980. Burke, who had served in the role for only four months, was escorting death row inmates from their cells to the showers when he was attacked and fatally stabbed with a makeshift weapon known as a shank.
His assailant was Thomas Knight, an inmate already serving a death sentence for the murder of a couple during a robbery.
Knight, who later changed his name to Askari Abdullah Muhammad, had a violent history. Prior to Burke’s murder, he had been convicted of kidnapping and killing Sydney and Lillian Gans in 1974. While awaiting execution for those crimes, he managed to kill Burke inside the prison. Following Burke’s murder, Knight was convicted again and sentenced to death for the second time. His legal battles continued for decades, with multiple appeals and reversals of his sentences. However, in 2013, an appellate court reinstated his death sentence, and Florida Governor Rick Scott signed his death warrant. Knight was ultimately executed on January 7, 2014.
Burke was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was survived by his wife and two children. His murder was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by correctional officers working in high-security environments. The case drew significant attention due to Knight’s lengthy stay on death row and the legal complexities surrounding his multiple convictions and appeals.
