Matthew B. Burgher

Utah Department of Corrections — Draper, UT

Felonious

End of Watch March 16, 1876

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Warden Matthew Burgher succumbed to injuries he received two days earlier when he was assaulted by a group of prisoners who were attempting to escape the Utah Territorial Prison.

The inmates hit Warden Burgher repeatedly with a rock wrapped in a woolen sock.

The inmates were captured, but were able to escape three months later and were never recaptured. During their second escape attempt, the men killed a prisoner who was serving a life sentence for murdering Provo Police Officer Albert H. Bowen in October of 1873.

I am seeking any known relatives of Mathew Burgher. Though he died without children, his father was William H. Burgher and his mother was Anna Jack Burgher. Ken Wallentine krwallentine@gmail.com

Chief Ken Wallentine Utah Attorney General Investigation Division March 9th, 2018

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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

150 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Warden Burgher served with the Utah Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Utah Department of Corrections

Location Draper, UT

Platform Identity utahcorr.saltlake.ut.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 16, 1876

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Rock

Offender Escaped

Warden Matthew B. Burgher 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Utah Department of Corrections, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Utah Department of Corrections

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

UT — Statewide

of 138 officers

60.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious