Arkansas State Police, Arkansas
End of Watch: Saturday, September 25, 1948
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 25, 1948
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Deceased
Trooper Sidney Pavatt was shot and killed by an AWOL soldier while checking cabins in a remote area because of a series of burglaries.
As Trooper Pavatt and four men approached a suspicious man standing near a cabin, he opened fire with a rifle killing Trooper Pavatt. The next day the owner of the cabin was found in a shallow grave nearby.
The 23- year-old suspect was captured in El Reno, Oklahoma, nine days later. He was returned to Arkansas and charged with the owner of the cabin and Trooper Pavatt's murder. He was convicted of Trooper Pavatt's murder and sentenced to life on June 23, 1949. He was never tried for the cabin owner's murder. He was paroled on February 8, 1968, and later died in 1993.
Trooper Pavatt had served with the Arkansas State Police for 1 year. He was survived by his wife, son, parents, seven brothers, and a sister.