Benjamin F. Wilder
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Benjamin F. Wilder

Felonious
End of Watch May 26, 1892
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ben Wilder was shot and killed by a 15-year-old boy he had arrested for petty larceny.

As he was escorted to jail, the suspect produced a pistol and shot Deputy Wilder through the head, instantly killing him.

The suspect, who was apprehended several days later, was convicted of first-degree murder and hanged at the Bibb County Jail in Macon on November 30, 1892.

Deputy Wilder was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and four brothers.

Survivors

Deputy Wilder was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-24B3B2B6
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

134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Wilder served with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Macon, Bibb County, GA
Platform Identity bcso.bibb.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1892
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Deputy Sheriff Benjamin F. Wilder 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Bibb County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Bibb County Sheriff's Office
6
of 12 officers
50% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% 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. Benjamin F. Wilder's cause is highlighted.

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

How Benjamin F. Wilder Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin F. Wilder is highlighted in May.

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. Benjamin F. Wilder was killed by handgun; pistol.

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