Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Murphy was shot and killed while going to the assistance of another deputy and the Madisonville police chief, who were involved in a shootout with two suspects. Deputy Murphy was struck once in the abdomen and suffered a fatal wound. He was taken to the local hospital where he died three days later.
One suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial and was again sentenced to death in 1927. In 1929 his sentence was commuted to life. He always maintained his accomplice was the killer. He was paroled on December 21, 1937. The other suspect escaped and was never apprehended. Governor Flem D. Sampson said when he commuted his sentence to life that he had serious doubts as to who Deputy Murphy's killer was and believed the suspect who was never apprehended was his killer.
Deputy Murphy had served with the agency for 3 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, two brothers, and six sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-F5B819E0- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Murphy gave the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Madisonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Murphy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Enos Murphy 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%.
At Hopkins County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Enos Murphy's cause is highlighted.
How Enos Murphy Compares
Offender Outcome
One paroled; One at large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Enos Murphy is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Enos Murphy was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Hopkins County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
