Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Marvin Richie was shot and killed by two Oklahoma prison escapees who had murdered two fishermen following their escape. The two men escaped by tunneling under the prison walls. Marshal Richie observed a suspicious vehicle containing the two and stopped it. During the stop, he was overpowered, handcuffed, and forced into the trunk of his patrol car. The suspects then drove to the Ashley Creek Park campground where they were approached by two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers non-law enforcement park rangers who saw Marshal Richie's patrol car and went to investigate. The two escapees surprised the rangers and held them at gunpoint. They forced one of the rangers into the trunk with Marshal Richie and forced the other to stay in the ranger's truck. Before closing the trunk lid one of the suspects shot Marshal Richie in the head, killing him, and the ranger in the chest. The suspects then abducted Ranger Opal James, took him to an isolated area, and murdered him execution style. The ranger who was shot in the chest recovered from his wounds. The suspects fled but were apprehended the following month in Portland, Oregon, by the FBI. Both suspects were sentenced to death and subsequently executed on January 8th, 1997.
Survivors
Marshal Richie was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-AR-0F45941D- Stewardship
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- 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.
Marshal Richie served with the Magazine Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Magazine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Richie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal Marvin Eugene Richie 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 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. Marvin Eugene Richie's cause is highlighted.
How Marvin Eugene Richie Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1997
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marvin Eugene Richie is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Marvin Eugene Richie was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.