Headstone of Burton Brewer

Burton Brewer

1974

Burton Lee Brewer.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Firearm
What Happened
Deputy Sheriff Burton Brewer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just killed Marshal Thomas Adkins of the Dewar Police Department and Auxiliary Officer Walter Hembree of the Henryetta Police Department. The suspect was then shot and wounded by the chief of the Morris Police Department. The 20-year-old suspect was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later overturned, and he was then sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in June of 2016. As of October 22, 2022, he was in prison. Deputy Brewer was a United States National Guard and Army WWII veteran who retired from the Okmulgee Fire Department after 21 years of service. He then became a private detective in Tulsa for a time before joining the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Department, where he served with the agency for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
Photograph of Burton Brewer
Photograph of Burton Brewer
Service Record
Also Served
Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Sheriff
In Our Keeping
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Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
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Last updated August 2, 2026

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