Roll of Honor

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Deputy Jailer

Joe C. Lykins

Boyle County Detention Center — Danville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch October 2, 1977

Age 62

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Jailer Lykins suffocated to death after being overpowered and gagged during an escape attempt from the Boyle County Jail. Four inmates overpowered him, gagged him, and tied his head to cell bars during the escape shortly after 2300 hours. The gag that was placed in his mouth restricted his breathing. Several other inmates in the cell block at the time used a razor to free Deputy Jailer Lykins after the escaping inmates made their escape but were unable to resuscitate him. The four inmates who were all apprehended within 24 hours, plead guilty to murder, and were sentenced to life in prison. One has a parole hearing on May 1, 2016.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-E752E0D8
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.
Deputy Jailer Lykins served with the Boyle County Detention Center.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Jailer Lykins.

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

Agency

Department Boyle County Detention Center

Type Corrections

Location Danville, KY

Platform Identity bcdccorr.boyle.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1977

Age 62

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Deputy Jailer Joe C. Lykins 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Boyle County Detention Center

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe C. Lykins's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Joe C. Lykins Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe C. Lykins is highlighted in Oct.

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. Joe C. Lykins was killed by person.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Boyle County Detention Center are honored on badge.nw.