On a January afternoon in 1981, Alexandria Deputy Sheriff William G. Truesdale, a 47-year-old male, was escorting three prisoners from the courthouse back to the city jail. An eight-year veteran of the Alexandria Sheriff's Office, he was a respected figure, known for his ability to remain composed and his fair treatment of inmates. Having served in the Korean War, he was no stranger to dangerous situations. He was a husband and a father to four children.
As they made their way up the stairs to the jail on January 27, 1981, one of the prisoners, Wilbert Lee Evans, who was manacled to another inmate, managed to overpower Deputy Truesdale. Evans, who was in Virginia for an extradition hearing on murder and robbery charges in North Carolina, gained control of the deputy's. 38-caliber revolver. He fired the weapon, striking Deputy Truesdale in the chest and causing him to fall down the steps. Evans then shot off his own handcuffs in an attempt to escape. The sound of the gunshot alerted dozens of officers in the vicinity who quickly responded.
Evans's escape attempt was short-lived. He was apprehended in a nearby parking lot after shooting himself. Deputy Truesdale was rushed to Alexandria Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 5:50 p.m. Evans was swiftly charged with the murder of the deputy.
Wilbert Lee Evans was convicted of capital murder in April 1981. The jury recommended the death penalty, and the sentence was formally imposed by a judge. Despite claims from Evans that the shooting was accidental, a contention disputed by other officers, his appeals were unsuccessful. On October 17, 1990, Wilbert Lee Evans was executed for the murder of Deputy Sheriff William G. Truesdale. In a testament to Deputy Truesdale's dedicated service, the Alexandria Adult Detention Center was renamed the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in his honor.
