Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Charley Ross was shot and mortally wounded when he and another deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence in Little Hocking. When Deputy Ross knocked on the front door, a man opened it and shot him. The other deputy took him to the hospital, where he died two days later. The suspect surrendered to the sheriff the next day. He was charged with Deputy Ross' murder, and on November 12, 1947, the suspect, 58, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. Deputy Ross had served with the Washington County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-79A060CC- 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 Ross gave the Washington County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Marietta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ross.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Charley Ross 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Washington County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. Charley Ross's cause is highlighted.
How Charley Ross Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charley Ross is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charley Ross was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Washington County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
