Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Robert Jones succumbed to gunshot wounds he suffered two days earlier while attempting to arrest an escapee from the Grant County Jail.
The convicted horse thief had been charged with grand larceny in July 1888 and sentenced to two years. As he was waiting to be transferred to the Indiana State Prison North, he escaped on September 20 from the jail. The convict later returned to the county to court a young lady while staying with his father.
Her family, who disapproved of their relationship, informed Sheriff Jones that the convict would be at the home of the girlfriend's sister in Jerome, in Howard County, that evening. Arriving at the residence at 9:00 pm, a deputy remained at the front door as Sheriff Jones proceeded to the rear door and entered the premises.
After both females denied the suspect was there, Sheriff Jones opened a door leading to a bedroom and found him hiding there. The suspect fired two shots from a .38-caliber revolver, seriously wounding Sheriff Jones in the left arm and abdomen. Sheriff Jones, who was unarmed, began striking the suspect with his billy club until the deputy gained entry through the front door, which had been barricaded with a bed and took the suspect into custody. Sheriff Jones survived two days before he died from his wounds.
The suspect was taken to the Indiana State Prison North in Michigan City to avert being lynched by enraged citizens and later sentenced to life in prison, but escaped from confinement in April 1907.
Sheriff Jones had served in office for less than four weeks of his two-year term.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-4071083B- Stewardship
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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
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Jones served with the Grant County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Marion community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Robert Lewis Jones 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Grant County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Lewis Jones's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Lewis Jones Compares
Offender Outcome
Escaped from prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Lewis Jones is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Lewis Jones was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Grant County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
