Roll of Honor
Robert George Warnke
Incident
Corrections Employee Robert Warnke was killed after being beaten by an inmate yielding an iron bar at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Officer Warnke was performing his early morning duties when the man attacked him from behind, knocking him to the ground. After falling, the man jumped on Officer Warnke and continued to beat him. The suspect, age 38, who had claimed to have murdered 22 people, had also been involved in the murder of Superintendent Harry Minto, of the Oregon Department of Corrections on September 28, 1915. He was one of the America's worst serial killers, rapist, arsonist, robber, and burglar. His life of crime started when he was eight years old when he stole a revolver from a neighbor. His murder spree began in 1920 after he burglarized the home of President William Howard Taft in New Haven, Connecticut, stealing a large amount of jewelry, bonds, and Taft's .45 caliber pistol. He was hung at Leavenworth Prison for Officer Warnke's murder on September 5, 1930. As officers placed the black hood over his head he spat in the executioner's face. When asked did he have any last words he said yes; "hurry up you --------, I could have killed a dozen men while you have been screwing around. When a reporter asked him did he have any regrets about all the terrible things he did he said "I'm not the least bit sorry". He was buried in the Leavenworth Prison Cemetery. Officials refused to put a headstone on his grave. Officer Warnke had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Junction City, Kansas.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-76326283- 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.
Corrections Employee Warnke gave the United States Department of Justice 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Warnke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Employee Robert George Warnke 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 - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 26 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert George Warnke's cause is highlighted.
How Robert George Warnke Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1930
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert George Warnke is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert George Warnke was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
