pop up description layer
ODO!
Home Page View Tribute Wall Search & Read Fallen Hero Stories Member Section Contact Us Make A Donation Our Policies Valued Links
Jul. 11, 2025 3:16 AM
Visitors: 1
Home
Year - 2025
Hero Search
View Wall
Song Tribute
9/11 Fallen
COVID-19
Contact Us
Donate
Members
Register
Policy
Mail List
Patches
Links
Notables
Enter Hero's Last Name
American Police Hall of Fame

Chism/2001
Rapozo/1998
Birkholz/2011
Whitehead Jr./2006
Thorne/1994
Fallen Heroes
Fallen Project
Click any option . . .
Detailed Search
States List
Stats
State Map Search
Most Recent
Notables
Add a Fallen Hero
9/11
COVID-19
New Hero Search Ruben Howard Thomas III
- Mar. 18, 2012 -
(27866)

Pass your cursor over pic to see larger version! Click pic for full version!

FL Dept. of Corrections Patch
Resided: Lake City (Columbia County)
FL, USA
Born: Jun. 09, 1987  
Fallen: Mar. 18, 2012
Race/Sex: Caucasian Male / 24 yrs. of age
Agency
Dept: Florida Dept. of Corrections
4070 Esplanade Way  
Tallahassee, FL   32311   USA
(850)717-3700
County: Leon
Dept. Type: State/Corrections
Hero's Rank: Sergeant
Sworn Date: Unk
FBI Class: Homicide - Knife
Weapon Class: Knife
Agency URL: Click Here
On The Job: 6 years
Duties: assigned to Columbia Correctional Institution Annex

Bio: Ruben was the son of Ruben Howard Thomas Jr. and Paula Terrell Thomas. He was educated in the Columbia County School System(FL) and was a member of the graduating class of 2005 from Columbia High School.

Sgt. Thomas loved to cook, read and garden. He was an avid hunter and fisherman as well as a dedicated Florida Gator Fan, but his favorite time was that spent with his baby girl, Emma.

Ruben was a member of the New Beginnings Pentecostal Church.

Survived by:
Ms. LeAnn Royster - Fiance - Other
& 18 mo. daughter Emma, and child due Aug/2012

Rueben Jr. & Paula Thomas - Parents
Fatal Incident Summary
Offender: Richard Franklin :: Caucasian / Male
Franklin is currently serving a life sentence for multiple crimes including the 2004 murder of a Bethune-Cookman College student in Daytona Beach, battery on a law enforcement officer and escape. Franklin has been disciplined more than 50 times while in prison, according to records, for threats, disobedience, lying, and other offenses. Secretary of the Department of Corrections Ken Tucker said Franklin will be transferred to a maximum security prison and the killing will be investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

  
Location: Columbia Correctional Annex   Lake City, FL   USA   Sun. Mar. 18, 2012
Summary: Sergeant Ruben Thomas was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution Annex.

At approximately 10:00 pm, Sergeant Thomas was checking on an inmate in one of the prison dorms when he was attacked. He was stabbed in the neck several times by an inmate who was armed with a shank. The inmate, already serving a life sentence for murdering a college student, then struck another officer in the eye with a sock filled with a heavy item before being subdued and restrained.

Sergeant Thomas was transported to Shands Lake Shore Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Source: Website      Click
Source: Website      Click
Source: Website      Click
More from Florida Dept. of Corrections
Add A Tribute Last Updated: May. 29, 2019 Add to Favorites




Martinez Jr./1989

Reed/1980

Mardis/1985

Walters/1975

Cann/1974

Houser/1969

Wright Jr./1972

Hoffman/1971

Bugg/1946
Barber/1960
Reishus/1992
Hoggard/1974
Clifford/1899
Flora/1975
Bohanna/1905
Harrison/2007
Stewart/2002
Duncan/1984
Home Page View Tribute Wall Search & Read Fallen Hero Stories Member Section Contact Us Make A Donation Our Policies Valued Links
Visitors Today - 0(0)
this entire site copyright© 1999 ----> 2025    Contact Us West Palm Beach, FL 33462
MemberID: 0(N)   Logged In: N   IP: 0