G. Earle Eldredge
Incident
Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, IL
Deputy Game Warden Earle Eldredge was shot and killed while investigating reports of poachers on his family's nature preserve northeast of Richmond in McHenry County.
His body was found two days later and the suspects were never apprehended.
Deputy Game Warden Eldredge's brother, Inspector Charles Eldredge, was shot and killed 24 years later while serving with the same agency. Inspector Charles Eldredge was shot with the same gun used to murder his brother, which the inspector had been carrying ever since in the hopes of finding those responsible for his brother's murder.
Deputy Game Warden Eldredge had served with the Illinois Department of Conservation for seven years.
The family's nature preserve later became the North Branch Conservation Area.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-7174AD3D- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew G.. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Game Warden Eldredge gave the Illinois Department of Conservation 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Game Warden Eldredge.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Game Warden G. Earle Eldredge 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, 2 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 15.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. G. Earle Eldredge's cause is highlighted.
How G. Earle Eldredge Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. G. Earle Eldredge is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement are honored on badge.nw.




