Wilson County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Friday, November 4, 1983
Add to My HeroesOllie F. "Sammie" Childress, Jr.
Deputy Sheriff Sammie Childress was shot and killed execution-style after being abducted by two suspects on Texas Highway 97. The suspects abducted Deputy Childress for the purpose of using his uniform and patrol car to commit a bank robbery.
The suspects saw Deputy Childress driving by and began to flash their lights at him. When he stopped, the two suspects displayed their guns, made Deputy Childress disrobe, handcuffed him, and placed him in the trunk of his patrol car. One of the men then put on part of his uniform, drove to a bank on U.S. 87, and robbed it at 11:50 a.m. After the robbery, the suspects returned to their vehicle, at which time the suspect opened the trunk and shot Deputy Childress in the neck.
The suspects drove away but returned moments later to wipe the patrol car clean of fingerprints. The suspect opened the trunk again and, finding that Deputy Childress was still alive, shot him in the neck a second time, killing him instantly.
The suspects were both eventually apprehended. The shooter was sentenced to death, and the other suspect, the shooter's nephew, was sentenced to 25 years. On May 3, 2017, the shooter's death sentence was commuted to life. The shooter died in prison in 2023.
Deputy Childress had served with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office for three years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren, his father, and four siblings. One of his sons also served with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
Bio
- Age 54
- Tour 3 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentence commuted to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 16 ReflectionsDeputy Sheriff Childress,
On today, the 40th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Wilson County. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
November 4, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths

Officer Jason Roscow
North Las Vegas Police Department, NV
EOW: February 4, 2025

Chief Deputy Burl Wesley Everman
Bath County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: November 9, 2024

Police Officer Philip J. Schifini
Nassau County Police Department, NY
EOW: November 27, 2024

Major Jeffrey A. Burke
New Jersey State Police, NJ
EOW: December 31, 2024

Corporal Dennis Francis Kelly
Delaware State Police, DE
EOW: December 21, 2024

Officer Baldino Morales-Sánchez
Mayagüez Municipal Police Department, PR
EOW: January 25, 2025

Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: January 20, 2025

Sergeant Mark Butler
Navasota Police Department, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas
Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025