Philip S. Kesner

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Felonious

End of Watch November 7, 1979

Age 23

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Trooper Philip Kesner was shot and killed during a prison break from the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. Trooper Kesner, who was off duty, was driving past the prison with his wife at the same time that 15 prisoners escaped from the prison. Trooper Kesner was pulled from his car by some of the prisoners and shot as he attempted to take action. Although mortally wounded, Trooper Kesner was able to return fire at the fleeing suspects. The suspect who shot Trooper Kesner was in jail for the murder of Sergeant David Lilly, of the Beckley Police Department, on May 12, 1975. The suspect shot Trooper Kesner with a service weapon stolen from one of the prison guards during the escape. The man, now 36, was placed on the FBIs 10 most wanted list. He remained on the run for two years. In 1980 he broke into a home in Virginia and shot at the owner as she arrived home. On March 12, 1981, he murdered a man in Scottsdale, Arizona, during a burglary of his home. The suspect was finally arrested on June 8, 1981, in New York City following a shootout with federal agents. He was returned to West Virginia to complete several life sentences. As of August 30, 2019, he was in Mount Olive Prison. If he is ever released, he faces a death sentence in Arizona. He was convicted there of burglary, first-degree murder and sentenced to death on February 10, 1984. As of June 15, 2023, the man, now 80, is in the Mount Olive Correctional Complex. Trooper Kesner had served with the West Virginia State Police for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-A5A140EE
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.
Trooper Kesner gave the West Virginia State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Kesner.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 7, 1979

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .380 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Trooper Philip S. Kesner 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At West Virginia State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

50% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious