William H. Moorehead

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction — Columbus, OH

Felonious

End of Watch December 23, 1905

Age 60

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Guard William Moorehead was fatally injured when an inmate attacked him with an iron pipe in the stamp shop at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus.

Guard Moorehead was taken to a local hospital where he died from head injuries the next day.

The suspect, who was serving a 12-year sentence for manslaughter, was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in the electric chair on September 21st, 1906.

NEVER FORGET! Please help me honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Guard William H. Moorehead of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio, and the additional 86 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired) Ohio Attorneys General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation December 23rd, 2024

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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.
Guard Moorehead served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Moorehead.

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

Agency

Department Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity odrc.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 23, 1905

Age 60

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Iron pipe

Offender Executed in 1906

Guard William H. Moorehead 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 18 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

of 26 officers

69.2% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious