Mark L. Avery
Agency patch
Corrections Officer

Mark L. Avery

Felonious
End of Watch May 23, 1993
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 139 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corrections Officer Mark Avery was beaten to death after he and another officer were attacked in the Lansing Correctional Facility's recreation hall.

The two officers were beaten with barbell plates and a stocking cap filled with pool balls.

Officer Avery was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-DF9FF282
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.
Corrections Officer Avery served with the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Officer Avery.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Topeka, KS
Platform Identity kanscorr.shawnee.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 23, 1993
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Corrections Officer Mark L. Avery 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kansas Department of Corrections, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas Department of Corrections
8
of 12 officers
66.7% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark L. Avery's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Mark L. Avery Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark L. Avery is highlighted in May.

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. Mark L. Avery was killed by person.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909