09/24/2007
Corrections Officer Susan Canfield – September 24, 2007 – Wynne Unit – Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Field Corrections Officer Susan Canfield was one of seven Corrections Officers on horseback who were supervising 76 inmates working in a vegetable field outside the Wynne Unit. Two inmates attempted to escape after one of them managed to seize the service weapon of one of the supervising Officers. One inmate was able to steal a Huntsville city truck from a service center next door to the field. The other inmate went after Officer Canfield who was blocking the escape with her horse and with gunfire. The inmate in the stolen vechile drove it straight at Officer Canfield’s horse. Officer Canfield was thrown from the horse onto the vehicle’s windshield and then fell to the ground. The inmate who was not in the vehicle grabbed Officer Canfield’s rifle, jumped in the truck, and the two inmates took off. They were apprehended not long thereafter. Officer Canfield died at the scene from blunt force trauma to the head. Officer Canfield is survived by her husband Charles, adult Daughter Kara, son in-law Allen, 8-year old grandson Trent and 6-year old granddaughter Jordan.