Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Boyatt was shot and killed from ambush as he and his teen-aged son were investigating a parked car on the side of Mine 18 Road. He was hit twice by two shotgun blasts that came from near-by underbrush. He and his son fired several shots at the suspect as he ran from his hiding place. Constable Boyatt died in a hospital three hours later.
The next day four men, 23, 24, 32, and 38, who lived near the scene were arrested and charged with murder. The county sheriff said Constable Boyatt had some trouble with the four several weeks earlier but refused to say what it was about. Three of the men accused the oldest one of firing the fatal shots. Exactly one year later he was tried and acquitted. Charges were dropped against the other three.
Constable Boyatt has served in law enforcement for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 11 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-7CADF30A- 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.
Constable Boyatt gave the McCreary County Constable's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Whitley City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Boyatt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William Austin Boyatt 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 McCreary County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 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. William Austin Boyatt's cause is highlighted.
How William Austin Boyatt Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Austin Boyatt is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Austin Boyatt was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from McCreary County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
