Roll of Honor
Josiah Poorboy
Incident
Special Deputy Marshal Poorboy and Deputy Marshal Thomas Whitehead were shot and killed by three men who were hired to kill them by the daughter of a Cherokee Nation judge. The woman's lover had been charged with adultery and was arrested, but had escaped custody. The marshals were watching the home in case the man returned there. The woman hired three outlaws to murder the lawmen to protect her lover. When the outlaws arrived at the home they called to the lawmen to come out and then shot them with rifles when they exited the home. All three suspects fled the scene. One of them was later shot and killed and the other two apprehended. One the captured suspects testified against the other one, who was sentenced to death but later had the sentence reduced to 1 year in the federal prison in Columbus, Ohio.
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
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Special Deputy Marshal Poorboy served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Marshal Josiah Poorboy 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Josiah Poorboy's cause is highlighted.
How Josiah Poorboy Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Josiah Poorboy is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Josiah Poorboy was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
