Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Corky Guthrie was shot and killed as he answered a silent alarm at a local drug store in Canadian at 3:46 a.m. He was hit with two shotgun blasts before he exited his cruiser. The first shot was from several yards away; then, the suspect opened the driver's side of the patrol car and shot him at point-blank range. When Deputy Guthrie was found, his car was still running, and his gun was still holstered. The suspect, 27, was apprehended the following day. After two trials ended with hung juries, his third trial resulted in a capital murder conviction and death sentence. On February 3, 1982, the Texas Court of Appeals ordered a new trial. On September 26, 1982, he was again convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. On July 24, 1985, another trial was ordered. He died on Huntsville Penitentiary's death row on June 17, 1986. Deputy Guthrie had served with the Hemphill County Sheriff's Department for over one year and previously served with the Perryton Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-08FFF318- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Guthrie gave the Hemphill County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Canadian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Guthrie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hemphill County Sheriff's Dept., 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie's cause is highlighted.
How Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie Compares
Offender Outcome
Died on death row
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Hemphill County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
