Betty Jean Uriegas
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Betty Jean Uriegas

Hall County Sheriff's Office — Gainesville, GA
Accident
End of Watch August 8, 2026
Age 66
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 10 mo
Badge 434
The Vigil Panel 227 ›

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Betty Uriegas succumbed to injuries she received in a single-vehicle crash on August 17, 1994, around 2:15 a.m.

While on patrol on Georgia Highway 13 during a rainstorm from Tropical Storm Beryl, Deputy Uriegas observed a group of people on private property. After turning her patrol vehicle around to investigate, she heard gunfire and hydroplaned on the wet road, crashing into a tree. She was stranded in her vehicle until another officer came to her aid. The group had disappaited by the time responding officers arrived.

Deputy Uriegas was transported to the hospital with a broken neck and remained a C4 quadriplegic. On August 8, 2026, she suffered pulmonary failure related to her injuries.

Tropical Storm Beryl caused significant damage to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, along the east coast, and throughout the Northeast, resulting in over $74 million in damages.

I’m saddened to learn of your tragic loss. I wish to thank you for your service to the people of Hall County. I will pray for your husband, daughter, son, mother, two sisters, nieces, nephews, and two grandchildren, as well as all of the rest of your friends, loved ones and colleagues. Rest in peace.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9:

Survivors

Deputy Uriegas had served with the Hall County Sheriff's Office for nine years. In 1996, she carried the Olympic Torch at the Atlanta Paralympic Games. Survivors include her husband, daughter, son, her mother, two sisters, nieces, nephews, and two grandchildren.

Family

Spouse Gabriel Uriegas, her husband
Child Dr
Child Gabriel Uriegas II, known as Tony, her son, married to Nora Uriegas
Parent Martha Moore, her mother
Parent Aaron Moore, her father
Sibling Barbara Duffee, her sister, married to Doug Duffee
Sibling Becky Jarrard, her sister

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-CAD10F92
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 12, 2026
Last updated
August 12, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Uriegas gave the Hall County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gainesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Uriegas.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Gainesville, Hall County, GA
Platform Identity hcso.hall.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 8, 2026
Tour of Duty 8 yrs 10 mo
Date Joined October 1, 1985
Age 66
Badge Number 434
Assignment Patrol Deputy; Dive Team; Honor Guard
Assignment Location Hall County, Georgia
Born Lula, GA

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Valor (Hall County Sheriff's Office)
Purple Heart (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Incident Location GA

Deputy Sheriff Betty Jean Uriegas is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 29.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Hall County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

Hall County Sheriff's Office
1
of 6 officers
16.7% Accident
GA — Statewide
263
of 903 officers
29.1% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Betty Jean Uriegas's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Betty Jean Uriegas Compares

Age at Death
66
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
8.9
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Betty Jean Uriegas is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897