Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Thomas Skelton was beaten to death by an inmate during an escape from the Hart County Jail.
The inmate, who was being held pending trial on a burglary charge, was able to remove a piece of wood from the cell door holding in a smaller door that food and supplies were passed through. After removing it, he was able to fit through the smaller door and then replace it to give the appearance it had not been tampered with.
As Jailer Skelton entered the hallway with the cells in it he was attacked by the man and struck numerous times with a wood plank and with the man's fists. His body was found several hours later.
The inmate escaped but was arrested several days later and returned to the jail.
Jailer Skelton was survived by his wife and one daughter from a previous marriage.
Survivors
Jailer Skelton was survived by his wife and one daughter from a previous marriage.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-GA-C161490C- 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
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Jailer Skelton served with the Hart County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hartwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer Thomas V. Skelton 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 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. Thomas V. Skelton's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas V. Skelton Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas V. Skelton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas V. Skelton was killed by blunt object.