Leslie John Besci
Incident
Correctional Officer Leslie Besci was murdered when two former juvenile inmates from the youth correctional center where he worked, broke into his house, tied him up, and beat him to death with a baseball bat. Both were apprehended. On December 20, 1995, both suspects, both 21, were convicted of second degree murder. One was sentenced to life. The other was sentenced to 20 years. He was paroled on June 11, 2002. Officer Besci had been assigned to the Sandhills Youth Center in Hoke County. He was a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Besci gave the North Carolina Department of Public Safety 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Leslie John Besci served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has lost 31 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Leslie is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
Leslie is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Leslie 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 1992, 1 officer at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2017, with 4.
In 1992, 4 officers in NC were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1992, 93 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1992, 97 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Leslie was 48. Of the 13 killed feloniously at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 43. Leslie had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Leslie was 48. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Leslie had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Leslie was 48. 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. Leslie had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Leslie was 48. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Leslie had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 23.1% of these deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; October holds the most, 23.1%. Sundays: 7.7%.
June holds 9.9% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Sundays: 13.2%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 41.9% of all 31 deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 53.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 2.9% 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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.1% of these deaths.
His people
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has 31 officers remembered here, Leslie among them.
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J. C. Freeman Sep 18, 1915
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Thomas Peter Sale Jan 28, 1916
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A. D. Spivey Aug 30, 1928
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Ernest B. Hux Aug 30, 1934
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James S. Chesser Dec 28, 1939
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H. Carl Keith May 25, 1945
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George S. Bowman Mar 4, 1947
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Kermit Dale Jackson Jul 21, 1960
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Earl Cranston Strickland Jun 2, 1969
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Randall Clayton Cupp
Jun 5, 1986
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Leslie John Besci Jun 28, 1992
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David Michael Anthony
Oct 27, 1998
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Shannon Cuddington Smith
Nov 9, 1999
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Edward Ashley Pounds
Jan 9, 2010
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William Lee Wright
Apr 11, 2012
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Keith DeCarlo Smith
Dec 1, 2012
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Meggan Lee Callahan
Apr 26, 2017
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Justin James Smith
Oct 12, 2017
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Veronica Skinner Darden
Oct 12, 2017
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Wendy Letitia Shannon
Oct 30, 2017
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Allen Bruce Trivett
Oct 10, 2020
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Michael Robert Flagg
Oct 26, 2020
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Charles Warren Harris, Jr.
Oct 28, 2020
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Thomas Daniel Roberts, Jr.
Nov 16, 2020
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Joseph Lloyd Greinke
Nov 20, 2020
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Christopher Eugene Sorrenti
Nov 30, 2020
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Julian Arsenio Priest, III
Dec 24, 2020
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Anthony Lynn Hardie
Feb 6, 2021
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Ledell Graham
Aug 30, 2021
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Dennis Eugene Boykin
Oct 12, 2021
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Helen Mae Smith
Feb 3, 2022
Military Service
Leslie John Besci served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Leslie John Besci’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
Also Remembered
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