Sergeant Howell Burchfield, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California

Sergeant Howell Burchfield

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California

End of Watch Saturday, June 8, 1985

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Howell Burchfield

Sergeant Howell Burchfield was stabbed to death when he was attacked by an inmate at the San Quentin State Prison's Carson Unit.

He was stabbed in the heart, causing him to bleed to death. All three inmates involved in the attack were convicted of his murder. The inmate who stabbed him and the inmate who ordered the stabbing were sentenced to life with no possibility of parole. The inmate who made and provided the shank was sentenced to death.

Sergeant Burchfield had been employed with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.

Bio

Age 37
Tour 12 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Shank
Offender Sentenced to death

prisoner custody

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I quit San Quentin about the time Mr b u r c h f i e l d began his career at Folsom Prison my last shift was B section in San Quentin South block I drove home to Folsom California never went back rest in peace Mr b u r c h f i e l d God bless your family thank you for your service

Thomas Norman... police officer
Department of Corrections San Quentin

July 13, 2025