Nelson B. Klein Sr.
Incident
Special Agent Nelson Klein was shot and killed while he and another special agent attempted to arrest a man for car theft and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles in West College Corner, Indiana. When the agents instructed the suspect to surrender, the man ran behind a garage and opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Klein. Agent Klein and the other agent were able to return fire, wounding the suspect in both legs. The 48-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On March 24th, 1936, he was executed by hanging at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. He was the second person to be tried and the first person sentenced to death under a federal law allowing the death penalty for the murder of a federal agent. Special Agent Klein had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nine years. He was survived by his wife and three children. One of Special Agent Klein's sons, Special Agent Nelson Klein Jr., was killed in the line of duty on May 29th, 1969, while also serving with the FBI.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Klein gave the United States Department of Justice 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Klein.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has lost 89 officers; 37 of them killed feloniously.
Nelson is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Nelson is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Nelson is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1935, 1 officer at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation was killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 3.
In 1935, 7 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1935, 156 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Nelson was 37. Of the 37 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 35. Nelson had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Nelson was 37. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Nelson had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Nelson was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Nelson had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nelson was 37. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Nelson had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 13.5% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation; April holds the most, 16.2%. Fridays: 18.9%.
August holds 9.2% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 41.6% of all 89 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 40.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 35% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Nelson among them.
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Edwin C. Shanahan
Oct 11, 1925
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Paul E. Reynolds
Aug 9, 1929
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Albert L. Ingle
Nov 24, 1931
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Raymond J. Caffrey
Jun 17, 1933
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W. Carter Baum
Apr 22, 1934
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Herman Edward Hollis
Nov 27, 1934
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Samuel Parkinson Cowley
Nov 28, 1934
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Nelson B. Klein, Sr.
Aug 16, 1935
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Wimberly W. Baker
Apr 17, 1937
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Truett Eugene Rowe
Jun 1, 1937
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William R. Ramsey, Jr.
May 3, 1938
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Hubert J. Treacy, Jr.
Mar 13, 1942
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Percy Eldridge Foxworth
Jan 15, 1943
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Harold Dennis Haberfeld
Jan 15, 1943
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Richard Blackstone Brown
Jul 14, 1943
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Joseph J. Brock
Jul 26, 1952
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John Brady Murphy
Sep 26, 1953
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Richard Purcell Horan
Apr 18, 1957
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Lee E. Morrow
Mar 3, 1960
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Joseph Irel Hart
Apr 17, 1962
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Terry Ray Anderson
May 17, 1966
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Douglas Merrell Price
Apr 25, 1968
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Anthony Palmisano
Jan 8, 1969
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Edwin R. Woodriffe
Jan 8, 1969
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Nelson B. Klein, Jr.
May 29, 1969
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Gregory W. Spinelli
Mar 15, 1973
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Charles Linson Brown, Jr.
Jul 5, 1973
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Edward John Knartzer
Dec 1, 1974
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Sheila Jean Regan
Dec 1, 1974
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Jack R. Coler
Jun 26, 1975
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Ronald A. Williams
Jun 26, 1975
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Trenwith S. Basford
Aug 25, 1977
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Mark A. Kirkland
Aug 25, 1977
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Jared Robert Porter
Aug 9, 1979
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Charles W. Elmore
Aug 9, 1979
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Johnnie L. Oliver
Aug 9, 1979
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Robert William Conners
Dec 16, 1982
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Charles Lawrence Ellington
Dec 16, 1982
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Terry Burnett Hereford
Dec 16, 1982
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Michael James Lynch
Dec 16, 1982
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Clifton Dewell Browning, Jr.
Dec 8, 1984
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Robin L. Ahrens
Oct 5, 1985
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Jerry Dove
Apr 11, 1986
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Benjamin P. Grogan
Apr 11, 1986
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James Kenneth McAllister
Apr 18, 1986
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Scott Kershaw Carey
May 10, 1988
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L. Douglas Abram
Jan 19, 1990
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Paul F. Cavanagh
Jun 19, 1990
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John Lawrence Bailey
Jun 25, 1990
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Stanley Charles Ronquest, Jr.
Mar 11, 1992
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Martha Dixon Martinez
Nov 22, 1994
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Michael John Miller
Nov 22, 1994
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William H. Christian, Jr.
May 29, 1995
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Charles L. Reed
Mar 22, 1996
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Paul A. Leveille
Sep 1, 1999
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Leonard William Hatton Jr.
Sep 11, 2001
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Robert Russell Hardesty
Jun 2, 2005
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Gregory J. Rahoi
Dec 6, 2006
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Paul H. Wilson
Feb 25, 2007
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Barry Lee Bush
Apr 5, 2007
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Robert Martin Roth
Mar 16, 2008
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Sang T. Jun
Oct 22, 2008
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Samuel Steele Hicks
Nov 19, 2008
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Paul Michael Sorce
Mar 9, 2009
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Laurie J. Fournier
Dec 26, 2009
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Jerry D. Jobe
Sep 11, 2010
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Gerard D. Senatore
Jan 19, 2011
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Timothy Scott Briggs
May 31, 2011
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Daniel Lee Knapp
Dec 29, 2011
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William Robert Craig
Apr 9, 2012
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Christopher William Lorek
May 17, 2013
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Stephen Palmer Shaw
May 17, 2013
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Mark Joseph Mikulski
Feb 25, 2014
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Steven A. Carr
Sep 25, 2015
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Wesley J. Yoo
Oct 11, 2015
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Rex Aaron Stockham
Oct 8, 2016
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Rickey O'Donald
Feb 17, 2017
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Mark C. Johnston
Sep 12, 2017
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Dennis Bonelli
Nov 28, 2017
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Melissa S. Morrow
Mar 22, 2018
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David James LeValley
May 26, 2018
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Brian Lawrence Crews
Jun 10, 2018
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Jimmie John Daniels
Feb 1, 2021
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Laura Ann Schwartzenberger
Feb 2, 2021
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Daniel I. Alfin
Feb 2, 2021
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Thomas James Mohnal
Feb 10, 2021
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John Hess
Aug 4, 2023
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Donald Raymond Kleber
Jan 15, 2024
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Dennis M. Wagner, Jr.
Mar 5, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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