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Incident
Correctional Officer McCarthy Taylor died when he fell from the east wall tower at the Virginia State Penitentiary. Officer Taylor had served with the Virginia Department of Corrections for 30 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Correctional Officer Taylor gave the Virginia Department of Corrections 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Virginia Department of Corrections has lost 16 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
McCarthy is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
McCarthy is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
McCarthy is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1957, 1 officer at Virginia Department of Corrections was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1957, 3 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1957, 55 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 85th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1957, 69 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 75th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
McCarthy was 54. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Virginia Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 54; the middle age was 54. McCarthy had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
McCarthy was 54. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. McCarthy had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
McCarthy was 54. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. McCarthy had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
McCarthy was 54. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. McCarthy had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 20% of these deaths at Virginia Department of Corrections; February holds the most, 40%. Tuesdays: 60%.
December holds 12.8% of these deaths in VA, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 31.3% of all 16 deaths at Virginia Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.1% of all 653 deaths in VA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Virginia Department of Corrections has 16 officers remembered here, McCarthy among them.
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Leonard Otoway Page Feb 2, 1906
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Supra C. Woodroof Feb 29, 1908
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Powhatan Dance Bass Jun 16, 1936
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McCarthy Taylor Dec 24, 1957
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Hilton Edward Bland
Sep 11, 1963
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James C. Vanneter
Jan 18, 1965
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Hugh Lucas Johnson
Jan 19, 1965
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Samuel Anderson Pickels
Jul 23, 1971
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Raul M. Monte
Nov 22, 1971
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Ronald Albert Barnes
Mar 24, 1975
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Henry McCoy Townes, Jr. Jan 6, 1981
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Rodolfo Felix Guillen, Jr.
Jun 14, 1982
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Joel A. Legaspi
Jan 21, 2018
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Wendy Nicole Harris-Rigney
Jun 19, 2020
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Earl R. Barksdale
Sep 9, 2020
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Jeremy Lewis Hall
Nov 17, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Virginia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
