Widow of a CT State Trooper requesting help to keep one of her husband's killers behind bars

WINDHAM, CT - On June 5, 1991, Connecticut State Trooper Russell Bagshaw was shot and killed in a senseless act of violence. Now, one of his killers is up for parole, and Trooper Bagshaw’s widow is asking for help to stop it.

According to the Connecticut State Police Academy Alumni Association (CSPAAA), Trooper Bagshaw had stopped at a gun shop in North Windam around 3:00 a.m. on June 5 and interrupted a burglary. Before he could reach his radio, he was executed in his cruiser, suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

Trooper Bagshaw was found by a passing firefighter and the gun shop owner after the firefighter saw the cruiser with its strobe lights on and used a payphone to call the owner. They approached the cruiser, and the firefighter was able to use Trooper Bagshaw’s radio to call for help.

On June 7, 1991, less than 48 hours after Trooper Bagshaw’s murder, brothers Duane and Terry Johnson were arrested for what the CSPAAA referred to as “the most cold-blooded violence ever leveled at a Connecticut State Trooper."

Terry Johnson was initially sentenced to death, while Duane Johnson was sentenced to life without parole. Upon appeal, both sentences were changed. Terry Johnson’s sentence was changed to life without parole, and Duane Johnson’s sentence was reduced to life with the possibility of parole.

“They gave Russ a death sentence. There is no chance for change. He’s never coming home. We were married less than 9 ½ months,” Trooper Bagshaw’s widow, Carol Bagshaw, told Law Enforcement Today.

On January 8, 2025, Carol Bagshaw received notice that Duane Johnson has a parole hearing on February 7, 2025. “This is the first time dealing with parole. I was underprepared to receive this news, to say the least,” Carol said.

Carol is reaching out to the community to ask for help. “This is the first time my efforts could possibly have something positive to do with the sentence. This is the time when this could have an impact. It has to be right,” Carol continued.

This battle for justice for Trooper Bagshaw’s killers has been ongoing, and his widow has been on the front lines every single step.
“People ask if this stresses me out, why do you keep doing this? And my answer is that it doesn’t matter if I’m stressed. It is my duty and responsibility. It’s the last act that I can do as his wife,” Carol stated.

Letters of opposition to Duane Johnson’s early release are desperately needed. This is a simple request for help from Carol Bagshaw.

Please send letters to:

Board of Parole and Pardons at ct.bpp@ct.gov with “Duane Johnson, #205961, General Public Victim Impact Statement for Russell Bagshaw” in the subject line. Please send these no later than February 6, 2025, and cc nina.vazquez@jud.ct.gov.
 
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Comments

Laurence

If Biden was still in power he would give the criminal a pardon.

Paul

And send gourmet ice creme to the savage killer of a Law Enforcement Officer.

James

A SALUTE to law enforcement ( http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TWFTT-1-9-19.mp3 ) boo hoo ........

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