Robert H. Holtman

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch February 21, 1925

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Guard Robert Holtman was pushed and then beaten to death by an inmate who had been disobeying him.

After being pushed, Guard Holtman was attempting to draw his weapon when the inmate struck him on the head with a metal pipe, causing fatal injuries. The suspect escaped from the state penitentiary in Baltimore, but was eventually apprehended in New York state. He was returned to Maryland where he was found guilty of murdering Guard Holtman and sentenced to death. The suspect was hung at the state penitentiary on August 14th, 1926.

The suspect was a member of a New York City gang that had robbed merchants. On November 2nd, 1926, two other members of the gang attempted to escape from the Tombs Jail in New York City. During the escape attempt, the suspects murdered Warden Peter Mallon and Keeper Jeremiah Murphy. Both suspects committed suicide during the failed escape attempt.

Guard Holtman was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Guard Holtman was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-F822552E
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.
Guard Holtman served with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Holtman.

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

Agency

Department Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity mdpscsdcdps.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1925

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object; Pipe

Offender Executed in 1926

Guard Robert H. Holtman 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious