Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Keeper Eli Stetser was shot and killed in the New Jersey State Prison, in Trenton, during an escape attempt by two inmates.
As other inmates were being taken to the prison chapel, the two inmates remained in their cell and asked to be taken to the prison doctor. Another deputy keeper was assigned to escort them to the doctor. When he opened the cell's door he was immediately attacked. One of the inmates grabbed him from behind and the other disarmed him. The prisoner who took the gun then ran into the center of the prison, where he encountered Deputy Keeper Stetser and the doctor. He immediately opened fire, striking Deputy Keeper twice in the chest.
Despite his wounds, Deputy Keeper Stetser was able to return fire and struck the man twice in the arm. Both inmates were then taken back into custody. Deputy Keeper Stetser was taken to St. Francis Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The prisoner who murdered Deputy Keeper Stetser was sentenced to death and later executed. The other prisoner was sentenced to 15 to 30 years of hard labor.
Deputy Keeper Stetser had served at the New Jersey State Prison for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-88215D52- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Keeper Stetser gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Keeper Stetser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Keeper Eli B. Stetser 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At New Jersey Department of Corrections, 16 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eli B. Stetser's cause is highlighted.
How Eli B. Stetser Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eli B. Stetser is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
