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Robert George Warnke
Incident
Corrections Employee Robert Warnke was killed after being beaten by an inmate yielding an iron bar at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Officer Warnke was performing his early morning duties when the man attacked him from behind, knocking him to the ground. After falling, the man jumped on Officer Warnke and continued to beat him. The suspect, age 38, who had claimed to have murdered 22 people, had also been involved in the murder of Superintendent Harry Minto, of the Oregon Department of Corrections on September 28, 1915. He was one of the America's worst serial killers, rapist, arsonist, robber, and burglar. His life of crime started when he was eight years old when he stole a revolver from a neighbor. His murder spree began in 1920 after he burglarized the home of President William Howard Taft in New Haven, Connecticut, stealing a large amount of jewelry, bonds, and Taft's .45 caliber pistol. He was hung at Leavenworth Prison for Officer Warnke's murder on September 5, 1930. As officers placed the black hood over his head he spat in the executioner's face. When asked did he have any last words he said yes; "hurry up you --------, I could have killed a dozen men while you have been screwing around. When a reporter asked him did he have any regrets about all the terrible things he did he said "I'm not the least bit sorry". He was buried in the Leavenworth Prison Cemetery. Officials refused to put a headstone on his grave. Officer Warnke had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Junction City, Kansas.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corrections Employee Warnke gave the United States Department of Justice 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Warnke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons has lost 34 officers; 26 of them killed feloniously.
Robert is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Robert is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 1 officer at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 21 years on record. The heaviest was 1983, with 3.
In 1929, 14 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Robert was 47. Of the 23 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 48; the middle age was 40. Robert had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Robert was 47. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Robert was 47. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert was 47. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 7.7% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons; October holds the most, 15.4%. Thursdays: 19.2%.
June holds 6.4% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Thursdays: 13.7%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 76.5% of all 34 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 23.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.1% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons has 34 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Joseph B. Waldrupe
Nov 16, 1901
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Andrew F. Turner
Mar 26, 1916
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Edgar A. Barr Mar 19, 1917
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James R. Brock
Dec 27, 1917
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Andrew H. Leonard
Nov 14, 1922
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Robert George Warnke
Jun 20, 1929
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Royal C. Cline
May 23, 1938
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Harold P. Stites
May 2, 1946
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William A. Miller
May 3, 1946
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William W. Latimer Oct 15, 1960
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Vern M. Jarvis
Jan 26, 1969
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Wayne Lewis Selle
Jul 31, 1973
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John W. Johnson
Sep 29, 1974
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Donald Fredrick Reis
Feb 28, 1975
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Gregory J. Gunter
Dec 25, 1982
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Gary Lee Rowe
Feb 7, 1983
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Merle Eugene Clutts
Oct 22, 1983
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Robert L. Hoffmann, Sr.
Oct 22, 1983
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Boyd H. Spikerman
Jan 29, 1984
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Robert F. Miller
Oct 12, 1987
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Daniel Januarius Bryer
Mar 29, 1991
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D'Antonio Andrew Washington
Dec 22, 1994
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Alfredo Deon Williams
Jul 30, 1996
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Scott James Williams
Apr 3, 1997
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Jose Rivera
Jun 20, 2008
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Christopher Quinn Cooper
Apr 7, 2011
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Eric Williams
Feb 25, 2013
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Osvaldo Albarati
Feb 26, 2013
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Brandon Elliot Kountz
Mar 31, 2013
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Michael Clifton Baskett
Nov 26, 2013
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Brian J. Feldt
Dec 23, 2013
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Justin Dean Joslyn
Sep 11, 2021
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Marc Alan Fischer
Aug 9, 2024
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Louis Pepe
Nov 24, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
