Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Barbara Dukes Ester was stabbed to death by an inmate at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys, Arkansas.
She had observed an inmate in possession of a contraband pair of sneakers and entered the open barracks to confiscate them. As she approached the inmate, he suddenly stabbed her twice in the stomach with a shank.
Corporal Dukes Ester was flown to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she succumbed to her wounds.
The 32-year-old inmate, who was serving a life sentence for murder, was immediately taken into custody and transferred to the maximum security wing of the prison. On November 7th, 2014, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In 2025, he died in prison.
Corporal Dukes Ester had served with the Arkansas Department of Corrections for 12 years.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband, who also serves as an officer at the same facility, and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-CEECDDE7- 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.
Corporal Dukes Ester gave the Arkansas Department of Corrections 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arkansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Dukes Ester.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Barbara Ann Dukes Ester 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Arkansas Department of Corrections, 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Barbara Ann Dukes Ester's cause is highlighted.
How Barbara Ann Dukes Ester Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Barbara Ann Dukes Ester is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Barbara Ann Dukes Ester was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Arkansas Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
