Pickens County Police Department, Georgia
End of Watch Saturday, September 17, 1927
Add to My HeroesWilliam Lee Cape
County Policeman William Cape was shot and killed while investigating possible moonshining activities. He was shot several times while attempting to search a vehicle.
One of the men then drove his body to Bartow County. His decapitated body was located by a hunter three days later.
All five suspects were apprehended and convicted of Policeman Cape's murder. Three were convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to one year on the county chain gang. The shooter, age 22, and another, age 38, were sentenced to life in prison. On August 8, 1929, the shooter escaped while working with a road crew. A car stopped where he was working; he jumped in, and was not seen again until 1934 when he was captured in Pickens County. Six months later he escaped from a prison work farm and recaptured in 1940. He was pardoned in 1941. The other lifer escaped from prison in 1934. It is not known if he was recaptured.
Policeman Cape had served in law enforcement for 40 years. He had previously served with the United States Marshals Service. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
Bio
- Age 65
- Tour 40 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Pardoned in 1941
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsI wished I was born back then. I’m your family. My mother is named Tara Michelle Cape. Her father is Rudyard Kipling Cape. I might have misspelled the first name.
Morgan Rash
Family
September 28, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024