Charles Griffin Middleton

Jackson County Sheriff's Office — Sylva, NC

Felonious

End of Watch July 2, 1953

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Sheriff Charles Middleton died from a gunshot wound. He and several other law enforcement officers were trying to locate a suspect in the Canada community for assaulting a woman. He had eluded arrest by hiding out in the heavily wooded area in the Canada community. Several of the suspect's friends that were with him in the woods were arrested and gave information about threatening statements he made about Sheriff Middleton. After receiving information about a more precise location, Sheriff Middleton and a patrolman were walking a trail in the woods when Sheriff Middleton was struck in the chest and neck by a shotgun. The patrolman only saw two figures run into the woods. A manhunt ensued with help from multiple law enforcement agencies. The suspect was captured the next day near Tennessee Gap. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on October 26th, 1953. He was paroled on January 12th, 1978, and later died on December 16th, 1994. Five days after the shooting the Jackson County Board of Commissioners appointed Sheriff Middleton's wife to serve out the remaining 17 months of his term. On October 1st, 1948, Sheriff Middleton shot and killed a prison escapee who was responsible for the death of Iredell County Sheriff Godfrey C. Kimball on August 17th, 1934.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-BAD846D5
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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Middleton served with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Sylva community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Middleton.

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

Agency

Department Jackson County Sheriff's Office

Location Sylva, NC

Platform Identity jcso.jackson.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 2, 1953

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Paroled in 1978

Sheriff Charles Griffin Middleton 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jackson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious