Roll of Honor
Henry E. Thierry, Sr.
Incident
Guard Officer Henry Thierry was killed when he was assaulted by two inmates who were attempting to escape from the jail in the St. Louis County Courthouse in Clayton. Officer Thierry was killed during a planned jail disturbance by inmates attempting to create a diversion to escape. Officer Thierry was found under a bunk with a sheet around his neck, his hands tied behind his back, and a rag stuffed in his mouth. He was working overtime on his day off and was scheduled to retire the following week. Officer Thierry was jumped when he entered a prisoner cell block to remove food trays. He was beaten with makeshift blackjacks fashioned by inmates from socks filled with bars of soap. Two inmates then pried a screen from a window of the outdated jail and attempted to escape with use of bed sheets tied together. The escape never succeeded as the first prisoner became stuck when his shoulders wedged in the narrow opening. After a verdict of homicide by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office, two inmates were subsequently charged by a St. Louis County Grand Jury with first-degree murder and escape attempt. Both inmates were awaiting trial on robbery charges and had previous escapes from a state penitentiary. One inmate ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 10-year sentence consecutive to life term for four counts of robbery.
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BO-US-MO-7E2F0901- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Officer I Thierry served with the St. Louis County Department of Welfare.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Officer I Thierry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Officer I Henry E. Thierry, Sr. 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 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. Henry E. Thierry, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Henry E. Thierry, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry E. Thierry, Sr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry E. Thierry, Sr. was killed by person.