V. B. Mattingly
Agency patch
Guard

V. B. Mattingly

Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1923
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard V.B. Mattingly, Guard William Gilbert, and Guard Hodge Cunningham were shot and killed by inmates who were attempting to take over the dining room at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville.

The three suspects were found dead three days later after officers stormed the dining facility; One had been killed during the ensuing standoff and the other two had committed suicide.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-FC78F974
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew V.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Mattingly served with the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Mattingly.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Frankfort, KY
Platform Identity kentcorr.franklin.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1923
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Guard V. B. Mattingly 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 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 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Kentucky Department of Corrections, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.

Kentucky Department of Corrections
9
of 17 officers
52.9% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% 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. V. B. Mattingly's cause is highlighted.

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

How V. B. Mattingly Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. V. B. Mattingly is highlighted in Oct.

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. V. B. Mattingly was killed by gun.

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