Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Illinois Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber Offender: One shot and killed
Special Agent Roy Zearfoss was shot and killed when he and another agent was critically wounded when investigating trespassers at a rail yard roundhouse near U.S. 51, about one mile north of Carbondale, Illinois. At approximately 2:00 pm, both agents came upon two suspected hobos in the rail yard. While questioning them, one suspect produced a .45-caliber automatic handgun from a satchel and shot both agents, striking Agent Zearfoss twice in the abdomen. The other agent was able to return fire, missing both suspects, who then took Agent Zearfoss' service weapon which had fallen to the ground. The suspects, after being joined by an accomplice nearby, commandeered a vehicle on the highway and fled. Agent Zearfoss was taken to a hospital and died three hours later, while the other agent recovered from his wounds. All three suspects were captured early the following morning in West Frankfort, Illinois, by authorities who killed one suspect who was the killer. Both of the other suspects, ages 42 and 20 were wounded and charged with murder. It was later determined all three suspects were ex-convicts who were planning a bank robbery in Dongola, Illinois, when approached by the agents. The 42-year-old was sentenced to life for accessory to murder. He was paroled on February 24, 1950. Agent Zearfoss had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department for 20 years.
Special Agent Roy Zearfoss was shot and killed when he and another agent was critically wounded when investigating trespassers at a rail yard roundhouse near U.S. 51, about one mile north of Carbondale, Illinois.
At approximately 2:00 pm, both agents came upon two suspected hobos in the rail yard. While questioning them, one suspect produced a .45-caliber automatic handgun from a satchel and shot both agents, striking Agent Zearfoss twice in the abdomen. The other agent was able to return fire, missing both suspects, who then took Agent Zearfoss' service weapon which had fallen to the ground. The suspects, after being joined by an accomplice nearby, commandeered a vehicle on the highway and fled. Agent Zearfoss was taken to a hospital and died three hours later, while the other agent recovered from his wounds.
All three suspects were captured early the following morning in West Frankfort, Illinois, by authorities who killed one suspect who was the killer. Both of the other suspects, ages 42 and 20 were wounded and charged with murder. It was later determined all three suspects were ex-convicts who were planning a bank robbery in Dongola, Illinois, when approached by the agents. The 42-year-old was sentenced to life for accessory to murder. He was paroled on February 24, 1950.
Agent Zearfoss had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, brother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-527BECB5- Stewardship
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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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Zearfoss gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Zearfoss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Roy Dale Zearfoss 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, 10 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy Dale Zearfoss's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Dale Zearfoss Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Dale Zearfoss is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Dale Zearfoss was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
