Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Robert McMurtry was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for murdering Special Deputy Marshal James Wood, of the Upton Police Department, three days earlier. The man had been located at a home and Sheriff McMurtry went to arrest him. As he searched the house shot him while hiding in the attic. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair on July 30, 1915.
Survivors
Sheriff McMurtry was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-52AEFA1B- 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.
Sheriff McMurtry served with the Hardin County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Elizabethtown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff McMurtry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Robert Terry McMurtry 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 Hardin 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. Robert Terry McMurtry's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Terry McMurtry Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1915
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Terry McMurtry is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Terry McMurtry was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Hardin County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
