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Incident
Deputy Keeper Eli Stetser was shot and killed in the New Jersey State Prison, in Trenton, during an escape attempt by two inmates.
As other inmates were being taken to the prison chapel, the two inmates remained in their cell and asked to be taken to the prison doctor. Another deputy keeper was assigned to escort them to the doctor. When he opened the cell's door he was immediately attacked. One of the inmates grabbed him from behind and the other disarmed him. The prisoner who took the gun then ran into the center of the prison, where he encountered Deputy Keeper Stetser and the doctor. He immediately opened fire, striking Deputy Keeper twice in the chest.
Despite his wounds, Deputy Keeper Stetser was able to return fire and struck the man twice in the arm. Both inmates were then taken back into custody. Deputy Keeper Stetser was taken to St. Francis Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The prisoner who murdered Deputy Keeper Stetser was sentenced to death and later executed. The other prisoner was sentenced to 15 to 30 years of hard labor.
Deputy Keeper Stetser had served at the New Jersey State Prison for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Keeper Stetser gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Keeper Stetser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New Jersey Department of Corrections has lost 32 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
Eli is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Eli is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Eli is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1913, 1 officer at New Jersey Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1913, 2 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1913, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1913, 136 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Eli was 61. Of the 16 killed feloniously at New Jersey Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 62; the middle age was 54. Eli had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
Eli was 61. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Eli had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Eli was 61. 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. Eli had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Eli was 61. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Eli had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 6.3% of these deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections; February holds the most, 25%. Sundays: 6.3%.
September holds 23.9% of these deaths in NJ, more than any other month. Sundays: 13.3%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 32 deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
New Jersey Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, Eli among them.
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James B. Lippincott Mar 2, 1894
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Jacob Grandine Van Houten
Apr 14, 1896
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William H. Hemsing
Aug 17, 1899
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Charles I. Parker Oct 25, 1900
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Joseph W. Martin Nov 13, 1908
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Edward McManus Feb 18, 1909
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John R. Fitzgerald May 10, 1911
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Eli B. Stetser
Sep 21, 1913
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Frederick A. Douglass Mar 11, 1915
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Bruce Linwood Drummond
Mar 20, 1919
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George Harrison May 4, 1924
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Daniel J. Walsh Jul 3, 1924
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Joseph H. Tinney
Feb 4, 1928
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Frank Butcher
Mar 13, 1930
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Joseph Peto Dec 2, 1948
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Victor Viteritto
Feb 28, 1951
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Alonzo Lanphear Apr 10, 1954
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Donald Hiles
Mar 8, 1968
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George Paszkowski
Aug 8, 1969
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Donald Bourne
Feb 28, 1972
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Dean E. Evans Jul 7, 1978
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Frederick W. Baker
Jul 30, 1997
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Michael Price
Apr 19, 2000
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Wayne Robert Clark
Jan 10, 2006
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Nikeelan D. Semmon
Jul 1, 2016
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Nelson Perdomo
Apr 9, 2020
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Maria Gibbs
Apr 22, 2020
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Vincent R. Butler
Dec 28, 2020
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Edward Chavez Jamandron
Jan 15, 2021
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Daniel Richard Krupa
Nov 17, 2021
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Robert F. McCormack
Jan 30, 2022
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Daniel Sincavage
May 19, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
