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Trooper

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 268 · Column 3 · Line 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 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

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

Type State Police

Location South Charleston, Kanawha County, 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

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Philip is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Philip was 23. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Philip had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded