Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Eli Bray was shot and killed with his own service weapon during an escape attempt from the Carthage Jail. Jailer Bray was working as a relief jailer, so the normal jailer could have a day off. An 18-year-old man and his 20-year-old wife came to the jail to see a prisoner. The man attacked Jailer Bray from behind, gained control of his service revolver, and shot him four times. The couple wanted to break a prisoner out of jail but failed in their attempt and fled. The suspects were arrested after fleeing to Chelsea, Oklahoma. The man was convicted of Jailer Bray's murder and sentenced to death on April 25, 1931. His sentence was later commuted to 50 years. In December of 1954 he escaped from the Missouri Penitentiary. On November 14, 1958, he was captured in Los Angeles, California. His wife was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison on May 21, 1931. Jailer Bray also served as a Carthage police officer and Marion Township constable.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, five brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4363ECE8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Jailer Bray served with the Carthage Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Carthage community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Bray.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer Eli Othel Bray is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eli Othel Bray's cause is highlighted.
How Eli Othel Bray Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 50 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eli Othel Bray is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eli Othel Bray was killed by officer's handgun.