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Rural Police Officer

B. H. Hatcher

Marlboro County Sheriff's Dept. — Bennettsville, SC

Felonious

End of Watch May 17, 1924

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Rural Police Officer B.H. Hatcher was shot to death by a man as he and another officer attempted to search the man's home.

His killer was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On January 27th, 1926, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction and awarded the subject a new trial because the search warrant had been improperly issued. On February 25, 1926, the suspect was set free.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Rural Police Officer Hatcher served with the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bennettsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rural Police Officer Hatcher.

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

Agency

Department Marlboro County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Bennettsville, SC

Platform Identity mcso.marlboro.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 1924

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Released in 1926

Rural Police Officer B. H. Hatcher 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Marlboro County Sheriff's Dept.

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. B. H. Hatcher's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How B. H. Hatcher Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Released in 1926

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. B. H. Hatcher is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. B. H. Hatcher was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518