Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Thomas Skelton was beaten to death by an inmate during an escape from the Hart County Jail.
The inmate, who was being held pending trial on a burglary charge, was able to remove a piece of wood from the cell door holding in a smaller door that food and supplies were passed through. After removing it, he was able to fit through the smaller door and then replace it to give the appearance it had not been tampered with.
As Jailer Skelton entered the hallway with the cells in it he was attacked by the man and struck numerous times with a wood plank and with the man's fists. His body was found several hours later.
The inmate escaped but was arrested several days later and returned to the jail.
Jailer Skelton was survived by his wife and one daughter from a previous marriage.
Survivors
Jailer Skelton was survived by his wife and one daughter from a previous marriage.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-C161490C- 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
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Jailer Skelton served with the Hart County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hartwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer Thomas V. Skelton 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas V. Skelton's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas V. Skelton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas V. Skelton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas V. Skelton was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Hart County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.