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Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber Offender: One shot and killed
Special Agent Roy Zearfoss was shot and killed when he and another agent was critically wounded when investigating trespassers at a rail yard roundhouse near U.S. 51, about one mile north of Carbondale, Illinois. At approximately 2:00 pm, both agents came upon two suspected hobos in the rail yard. While questioning them, one suspect produced a .45-caliber automatic handgun from a satchel and shot both agents, striking Agent Zearfoss twice in the abdomen. The other agent was able to return fire, missing both suspects, who then took Agent Zearfoss' service weapon which had fallen to the ground. The suspects, after being joined by an accomplice nearby, commandeered a vehicle on the highway and fled. Agent Zearfoss was taken to a hospital and died three hours later, while the other agent recovered from his wounds. All three suspects were captured early the following morning in West Frankfort, Illinois, by authorities who killed one suspect who was the killer. Both of the other suspects, ages 42 and 20 were wounded and charged with murder. It was later determined all three suspects were ex-convicts who were planning a bank robbery in Dongola, Illinois, when approached by the agents. The 42-year-old was sentenced to life for accessory to murder. He was paroled on February 24, 1950. Agent Zearfoss had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department for 20 years.
Special Agent Roy Zearfoss was shot and killed when he and another agent was critically wounded when investigating trespassers at a rail yard roundhouse near U.S. 51, about one mile north of Carbondale, Illinois.
At approximately 2:00 pm, both agents came upon two suspected hobos in the rail yard. While questioning them, one suspect produced a .45-caliber automatic handgun from a satchel and shot both agents, striking Agent Zearfoss twice in the abdomen. The other agent was able to return fire, missing both suspects, who then took Agent Zearfoss' service weapon which had fallen to the ground. The suspects, after being joined by an accomplice nearby, commandeered a vehicle on the highway and fled. Agent Zearfoss was taken to a hospital and died three hours later, while the other agent recovered from his wounds.
All three suspects were captured early the following morning in West Frankfort, Illinois, by authorities who killed one suspect who was the killer. Both of the other suspects, ages 42 and 20 were wounded and charged with murder. It was later determined all three suspects were ex-convicts who were planning a bank robbery in Dongola, Illinois, when approached by the agents. The 42-year-old was sentenced to life for accessory to murder. He was paroled on February 24, 1950.
Agent Zearfoss had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, brother and sister.
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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Zearfoss gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Zearfoss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has lost 12 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Roy is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Roy is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Roy 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 1936, 2 officers at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1936, 8 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1936, 136 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Roy was 44. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 36; the middle age was 35. Roy had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Roy was 44. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Roy had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Roy was 44. 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. Roy had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Roy was 44. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Roy had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 20% of these deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 20%.
July holds 10.3% of these deaths in IL, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.6%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 83.3% of all 12 deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.5% 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 handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.5% of these deaths.
His people
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Roy among them.
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Matthew E. McGrath
Aug 8, 1903
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Victor C. Benner Dec 7, 1911
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Cyrus E. Van Sickle Feb 11, 1916
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Louis Edward Baum Jul 27, 1927
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Joseph J. Kucera, Jr. Apr 29, 1929
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Christopher O. McClure Feb 17, 1931
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Frank M. Bolen
Apr 26, 1933
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Richard Kelly May 30, 1935
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Roy Dale Zearfoss
Jul 17, 1936
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William Urban Sprous Sep 13, 1936
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John Ben Merz Oct 11, 1949
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Jess Anderson
Sep 11, 1950
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
