Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Frank Keller was killed after being struck in the head with a pick ax.
He was supervising a chain gang working in a quarry approximately one mile north of the zoo on Grant Avenue. The prisoner struck him in the back of the head with the pick ax and then stole his revolver. Before the prisoner could escape a second deputy shot him with bird shot, wounding him.
Deputy Keller was taken to his home where he died from his injuries that evening.
The subject who murdered him was sentenced to 99 years. He was later moved to an asylum and then pardoned by the governor.
Deputy Keller was survived by his wife and daughter.
Survivors
Deputy Keller was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-DF26BBD7- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Keller served with the Greene County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Henry Keller 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 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 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Greene County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Keller's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Keller Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Keller is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Henry Keller was killed by edged weapon; pick ax.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
