Merle E. Clutts

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Merle E. Clutts (1932 - October 23, 1983) was an American correctional officer working at the federal penitentiary in Marion penitentiary, Illinois, United States. Clutts was stabbed to death by inmate Thomas Silverstein in 1983. Silverstein and other prisoners claim Clutts tormented and bullied Silverstein prior to being stabbed.[1].

Shortly after this another guard was also killed in the prison. This was the first time in the history of the Bureau of Prisons where two correctional officers were killed on the same day.^{[citation needed]}

It was shortly after this that security measures at Marion were tightened to the point where inmates were locked in their cells 23 hours a day and supervised whenever they were let out (i.e., permanent lockdown).

Clutts had served with distinction as an officer for 19 years.^{[citation needed]}