Agricultural Lead Worker Joseph J. Cushman (Menard CC), was found murdered at the prison farm on Sunday evening Oct. 24, 1982. He was bludgeoned to death by inmate Bruce Davis who stole Cushman’s pickup to make his escape. He was captured a few weeks later and returned to Illinois where he was convicted and sentenced to life. Davis, who had been serving a 25-45 year sentence for murder when he killed Cushman, hung himself on Dec. 12, 1988 in his cell at the Menard Psychiatric Center. A 19-year IDOC veteran, Cushman, 52, began his career as a Correctional Officer at Menard in 1963. After a six-month leave in 1975, he returned to Menard as an officer until promotion to agricultural lead worker in October 1981. He was survived by his wife of 32 years, a daughter and four sons.