Albert Roberts
Agency patch
Deputy Jailer

Albert Roberts

Breathitt County Jail — Jackson, KY
Felonious
End of Watch December 10, 1921
Age 17
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Jailer Albert Roberts was shot and killed as seven men attempted to break four men out of jail who had been sentenced to life after being convicted of murder. The jailer's daughter was also shot and killed and his wife was seriously wounded. Four suspects were eventually apprehended and charged with murder. Three others were never apprehended.

One 17-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was released after serving two years. Another was sentenced to death. He was released a few weeks later after the Kentucky Court of Appeals overturned his conviction.

Deputy Jailer Roberts was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Deputy Jailer Roberts was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-A70B16A8
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
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.
Deputy Jailer Roberts served with the Breathitt County Jail.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Jailer Roberts.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Jackson, KY
Platform Identity bcjcorr.mercer.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1921
Age 17
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Jailer Albert Roberts is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Breathitt County Jail, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Breathitt County Jail
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert Roberts's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Albert Roberts Compares

Age at Death
17
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert Roberts is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert Roberts was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909