Prev
Incident
Sergeant Joseph Horne and Sheriff Gay Hovatter, of the Tucker County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed while arresting a man for stealing a coal truck. The officers had served the arrest warrant at the man's home and accompanied him inside to obtain personal effects. While inside, the man shot and killed both officers with a pistol he had hidden in his waistband. The suspect then shot Sheriff Hovatter's son, who had accompanied his father. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested the following day during a massive manhunt. The man was convicted of the murders and executed by hanging.
Survivors
Sergeant Horne had been employed with the West Virginia State Police for 20 years, and is survived by his wife and young daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpgqjvcb7n6emn1dk3j0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Horne gave the West Virginia State Police 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Horne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
West Virginia State Police has lost 42 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Joseph is one of 169 officers killed feloniously in WV, 72.8% of the 232 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph 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 1946, 1 officer at West Virginia State Police was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 17 years on record. The heaviest was 1977, with 3.
In 1946, 4 officers in WV were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 79 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1946, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Joseph had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 8.5 years.
Joseph had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Joseph had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 9.5% of these deaths at West Virginia State Police; June holds the most, 19%. Mondays: 28.6%.
September holds 7.7% of these deaths in WV; August holds the most, 14.2%. Mondays: 16%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 42 deaths at West Virginia State Police, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 72.8% of all 232 deaths in WV, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 8.3% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
West Virginia State Police has 42 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
-
Ernest Lee Ripley
Nov 18, 1920
-
Charles M. Kackley
May 25, 1921
-
William Lee McMillion
Jun 28, 1921
-
George Albert Duling
Aug 28, 1921
-
Howard Addison Deem
Jun 3, 1922
-
James Blaine Shrewsbury
Jul 16, 1923
-
Ulric Linton Crawford
Jun 20, 1924
-
Theodore R. Meadows
Apr 17, 1926
-
James Lewis Lowe
Jun 28, 1926
-
Blake Allison Michael
May 1, 1927
-
Arza A. Allen
Nov 1, 1928
-
William Hall
Oct 18, 1930
-
Farley K. Litton
Nov 8, 1935
-
Allen Henry Bennett Jeffreys
Jul 16, 1939
-
Franklin D. Patrick
Aug 27, 1939
-
Newton Tressel Sites
Sep 2, 1942
-
Burr White Harrison
Dec 3, 1945
-
Joseph Pierce Horne
Sep 9, 1946
-
Arthur M. Hurst
Jun 17, 1949
-
Robert F. Rulong
Feb 10, 1958
-
Harry E. Robinson
Nov 27, 1962
-
William Joseph Shrewsbury
Sep 28, 1963
-
Robert Ball Noechel
Nov 1, 1965
-
Hugh Donald Swartz
Oct 5, 1970
-
Thomas Dean Hercules
Jan 12, 1977
-
Charles Henry Johnson
Jan 12, 1977
-
Bruce Thompson Brown
Oct 14, 1977
-
Dewey Colen Shrewsbury
Oct 25, 1978
-
Philip S. Kesner
Nov 7, 1979
-
Carlen Bill Stone
Dec 16, 1982
-
Harry G. Lucas, Jr.
Sep 12, 1984
-
Jonathan David Harris
Jul 11, 1985
-
William Howard Phillips
Jul 30, 1987
-
James Thomas Brammer
Apr 15, 1989
-
Larry Gene Hacker
Apr 9, 1993
-
Charles Matthew Turner
Apr 4, 1996
-
Douglas Wayne Bland
Jan 19, 1999
-
Brian William Linn
Nov 3, 2007
-
Marshall Lee Bailey
Aug 28, 2012
-
Eric Michael Workman
Aug 31, 2012
-
Joseph George Portaro
Mar 14, 2016
-
Cory Maynard
Jun 2, 2023
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from West Virginia State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
