Marion Stapleton

Menifee County Sheriff's Office — Frenchburg, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 13, 1932

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Marion Stapleton was shot and killed and Deputy Sheriff Stanley Helton was mortally wounded by a man wanted for the murder of a local farmer the previous day.

The suspect opened fire with a shotgun as the deputies approached. Deputy Stapleton was killed instantly. Deputy Helton, struck in his chest, succumbed to his wounds 12 days later. A third deputy was slightly wounded.

The suspect fled into the mountains but surrendered to a posse five days later. He was sentenced to death for Deputy Helton's murder and executed in the electric chair on November 3, 1933.

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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Stapleton served with the Menifee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Frenchburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stapleton.

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

Agency

Department Menifee County Sheriff's Office

Location Frenchburg, KY

Platform Identity mcso.menifee.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1932

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Executed in 1933

Deputy Sheriff Marion Stapleton 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 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 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Menifee County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Menifee County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious