Eustace Gay Hardman

West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Charleston, WV

Felonious

End of Watch November 22, 1939

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 76 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Guard Eustace Hardman succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when an inmate struck him on the back of the head with a pick ax.

He was supervising a work crew at a convict road camp in McCauley, West Virginia, when the inmate approached him from behind and struck him in an attempt to escape. The inmate then stole a truck but was involved in a crash near Baker. The man was then shot and killed after stealing another vehicle belonging to a county constable who arrived to investigate the crash.

Guard Hardman was survived by his wife, three children, and father.

Survivors

Guard Hardman was survived by his wife, three children, and father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-CDADBC38
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.
Guard Hardman served with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Hardman.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Location Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvdcrcorr.kanawha.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 22, 1939

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Edged weapon; Pick ax

Offender Shot and killed

Guard Eustace Gay Hardman 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation

of 7 officers

85.7% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious