CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The family of fallen corrections officer Andrew Lansing from the Ross Correctional Institution (RCI) has reported receiving a threatening letter, raising further concerns following the officer’s tragic death last month.
A local law enforcement officer responded to the family’s distress at the Ross County Sheriff’s Office on January 11, after the widow of Lansing, who was murdered by an inmate at RCI on Christmas Day, filed a formal complaint about a suspicious letter sent to her home. Lansing had worked for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) for years.
According to Lansing’s widow, the letter arrived at her home with no return address but had a postmark from San Jose, California, dated January 4, 2025. Inside, she found a disturbing message congratulating her husband’s death and encouraging further incidents like the one that claimed his life. The letter also alluded to the writer’s past involvement in assaults on correctional officers while incarcerated.
The note, which included a photo of the character Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas, ended with the phrase “PS: Allaho Akbar of New Orleans.” The chilling content prompted immediate concern from the widow, who feared for her safety.
Law enforcement officials have informed the Ohio State Patrol (OSP) about the threatening communication, and an investigation is underway. Evidence, including photos of the letter and its envelope, has been forwarded the Chillicothe Post of the OSP.
This latest incident follows public outcry since the murder of Officer Lansing, with both ODRC employees and the families of current inmates calling for significant changes within Ohio’s prison system, including demands for the resignation of the ODRC director.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the source of the letter and any potential threat to the family and others connected to the case.
