Roll of Honor
John David Murphree
Incident
Game Warden John Murphree was shot and killed by a 16-year-old boy who was illegally hunting ducks in Jasper County.
Warden Murphree came upon the boy and three others hunting in a flooded field five miles south of Mauriceville the boy shot him twice as he approached them. Warden Murphree suffered shotgun wounds to his abdomen and the back of his head.
The boy who shot him was arrested and charged with murder. In a written statement he said when he saw Warden Murphree he started to flee, tripped, and the shotgun accidentally went off twice. The other men 18, 28, and 38, were charged with game violations. The boy was convicted of murder with malice and sentenced to 2 years.
Warden Murphree was survived by his wife and three school age children. Warden Murphree had no insurance. The State of Texas agreed to pay his widow the amount of money that he would make in one year.
Survivors
Warden Murphree was survived by his wife and three school age children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5D184B26- 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.
Game Warden Murphree gave the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Murphree.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Game Warden John David Murphree 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division, 4 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John David Murphree's cause is highlighted.
How John David Murphree Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 2 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John David Murphree is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John David Murphree was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division are honored on badge.nw.
