Skip to main content

Josephine McCallum - State Prison of Southern Michigan

March 24, 1987: Josephine McCallum, a rookie corrections officer at the State Prison of Southern Michigan, was found raped, strangled and beaten on this date in an auditorium stairwell. Though there were no staff witnesses, evidence pointed to a single attacker, who was later found guilty of committing the crime and sentenced to prison for first-degree murder.

The murder sparked major controversies revolving around the place of women in male facilities as well as the seclusion of rookie officers on certain job assignments. The murderer had been serving time for kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct and armed robbery.

Josephine McCallum
Josephine McCallum - State Prison of Southern Michigan