FORT MADISON – A convicted Iowa murderer and robber who once escaped prison died of natural causes, still a ward of the state.
Lawrence T. Gladson was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. March 21, 2017 in a Hospice room of the Iowa State Penitentiary where he had been housed due to a number of chronic illnesses. Gladson was 72 years old at the time of his death.
Gladson had been serving life without possibility of parole for first degree murder and three counts of first degree robbery from Jasper County. He was originally admitted to prison on January 11, 1983 for felony assault, extortion and false imprisonment from Warren County but escaped from the minimum security Correctional Release Center in Newton, Iowa on September 3, 1985 and committed the current offenses.
According to news reports, 10 days after his escape from the minimum-security facility, Gladson and an accomplice murdered a police officer on September 13, 1985 in Newton, Iowa while robbing a grocery store.
9 thoughts on “Iowa cop-killer and robber dies in prison of natural causes”
Tom gladson was a stand up guy.
Sounds like a real dandy.
I knew tom, when he was at Leavenworth penitentiary. It was 1990. R.I.P
Hello Bill how have u been. Thank u for the nice words u said about my dad. Lawrence Thomas Gladson. RIP Dad
Thats my dads dad
Hey brother, I knew you’re dad when he was at Leavenworth penitentiary in the 90’s we were in the same unit for years. I knew him well we had many business deals in the mix. I’m sad he’s gone. R.I.P REGARDS Bill…
To the Anonymous comment. This is his Daughter. That isn’t nice to say. He was a Vitamin Veteran. He had problems like the rest of the Vitamin Veterans. And no one would help them. There r alot of the Veterans in prison.
He should have been put out of the tax payers misery 30 years ago !
HELLO THIS IS DAUGHTER I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS NEVER NO MY FATHER BUT WHEN I GOT TO NO HIM HE IS THE MOST WONDERFUL FATHER U CAN ASK FOR. I WAS TO YOUNG TO SEE HIM IN PRISON BUT WHEN I TURNED 18 I WENT AND SEEN HIM EVERY CHANCE I COULD. I WAS THERE WITH HIM WHEN HE PASSED AWAY. HELD HIS HANDS CRIED.WITH HIM. U CANT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANYBODY SHOULD PUT OUT OF THERE MISSERY BY ANY MEANS. WHAT IT THAT WAS YOUR SON SITTING THERE. AND JUST CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM WHERE U HAD TO KILL POOR LITTLE PRECIOUS YOUNG CHILDREN OR THEY WOULD KILL U. I LOVE MY FATHER TO PIECE. WISH HE WAS STILL HERE. BUT WITHOUT THE PAIN MY FATHER HAD TO DEAL WITH. DEAR GOD PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS PERSON AND HIS FAMILY. RIP LAWRENCE THOMAS GLADSON. LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER SUSAN