Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Larkin Stapleton was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a domestic disturbance on Main Street in Crab Orchard, Kentucky.
A married couple was in town shopping when the husband began cursing his wife because she allowed her brother to take the keys to their car. Constable Larkin attempted to calm the man and then threatened to arrest him as became more irate. During the ensuing argument the woman, who was holding their 3-month-old child in her arms, pulled the man's revolver from his pocket and pointed it at Constable Stapleton.
The woman told a deputy constable who was with Constable Stapleton could arrest the husband but Constable Stapleton could not. When the deputy constable re-entered his store to obtain his own gun the woman shot Constable Stapleton in the chest. The husband then took Constable Stapleton's gun and shot him a second time before fleeing. The woman was arrested moments later. The man was arrested hiding in a cave a short time later by a posse.
The man was later sentenced to life in prison and the woman was sentenced to two years in prison.
Constable Stapleton had served in law enforcement for several years but had been appointed as constable only a few months prior to his murder.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-11D2705E- 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.
Constable Stapleton served with the Lincoln County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Stanford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Stapleton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William Larkin Stapleton 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 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 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Larkin Stapleton's cause is highlighted.
How William Larkin Stapleton Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Larkin Stapleton is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Larkin Stapleton was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.