Roll of Honor
Franklin L. Weston
Incident
Correctional Officer Franklin Weston, Correctional Officer George Landry, and Correctional Officer Howard Murphy were stabbed to death at the Massachusetts State Farm in Bridgewater. The three officers were working in the Department of Defective Delinquents section of the farm at the time. Officer Weston had gone with two inmates to carpentry and shoe shop to fix a light. He turned his back to the inmates to screw the light bulb in and was attacked by one of the men and knocked unconscious. The inmates then grabbed several tools and chisels. Before fleeing they stabbed Officer Weston ten times with a chisel. As they attempted to make their escape they were confronted by Officer Murphy and Officer Landry. Officer Murphy caught them as they headed towards the third floor of the building. The men suddenly turned around and stabbed Officer Murphy with the chisels as well. They also stabbed Officer Landry when he came to the aid of Officer Murphy. The suspects were eventually apprehended after a standoff with the state police. Both inmates were executed on January 1, 1947, for the three murders. Officer Weston had been with the Massachusetts Department of Correction for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four children, and five grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-25168CDF- 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.
Correctional Officer Weston gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Weston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Franklin L. Weston 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 42.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Massachusetts Department of Correction, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Franklin L. Weston's cause is highlighted.
How Franklin L. Weston Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Franklin L. Weston is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Franklin L. Weston was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Massachusetts Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
