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Incident
Guard Cyrus Sells was killed by an inmate who attacked him with an ax at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus. The inmate had served seven years of a 15-year sentence for highway robbery.
He was convicted of Guard Sells' murder and hanged February 9th, 1844.
Guard Sells is buried in Section R of Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
185 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Guard Sells served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has lost 26 officers; 18 of them killed feloniously.
Cyrus is one of 572 officers killed feloniously in OH, 57.6% of the 993 remembered there.
Cyrus is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Cyrus is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1841, 1 officer at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 17 years on record. The heaviest was 1948, with 2.
In 1841, 1 officer in OH was killed feloniously, the 114th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1916, with 17.
In 1841, 7 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 178th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1841, 10 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 179th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Cyrus was 22. Of the 18 killed feloniously at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 61.5; the middle age was 44.5.
Cyrus was 22. Of the 552 killed feloniously in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38.
Cyrus was 22. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Cyrus was 22. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
June holds 16.7% of these deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction; April holds the most, 22.2%. Wednesdays: 22.2%.
June holds 6.8% of these deaths in OH; December holds the most, 9.6%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 26 deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; axe, in 5.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.6% of all 993 deaths in OH, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; axe, in 0.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; axe, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; axe, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has 26 officers remembered here, Cyrus among them.
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Cyrus Sells
Jun 9, 1841
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James Fancher Jul 14, 1849
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Daniel Heavey Jan 19, 1865
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Charles B. Lauderbaugh
Nov 18, 1898
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Henry J. Gearhart May 29, 1904
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William H. Moorehead Dec 23, 1905
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Urban Wilford Nov 3, 1926
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Grant Weakley
Sep 2, 1927
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Frank B. Hanger
Oct 6, 1932
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Alfred E. Schmidt Sep 2, 1940
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Walter W. Zimmer
Apr 19, 1948
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Samuel P. Chesshir Apr 22, 1948
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Arthur L Sprouse Jul 24, 1973
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Gary P. Underwood
Jul 24, 1973
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Robert A. White
Apr 27, 1979
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Eric D Bowling Feb 2, 1984
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Beverly Jo Taylor
Jun 7, 1990
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Thomas D. Davis, Jr.
Jun 26, 1992
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Robert B. Vallandingham
Apr 14, 1993
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Dennis Lee Stemen
Jul 5, 1994
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Bonita Haynes
Aug 6, 1996
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Shirlene A. Jenkins
Feb 11, 1997
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Wayne Mitchell
Feb 2, 2001
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Michael Wilson Douds
Apr 5, 2003
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Rodney Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
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Andrew Lansing
Dec 25, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
