Boone County Sheriff's Office, Missouri
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 14, 1933
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 14, 1933
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed
Sheriff Roger Wilson and Sergeant Benjamin Booth, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, were shot and killed at the intersection of Highway 40 and Highway 63 following a bank robbery that had occurred in Mexico, Missouri.
The officers were stopping cars at the intersection to ask motorists if they had seen the suspect vehicle. They stopped a car unrelated to the robbery when the two occupants exited and opened fire on them.
A 17-month investigation by law enforcement officials followed and both suspects were apprehended. Both were convicted of the murders. One was sentenced to life in prison while the other was sentenced to death and subsequently executed on December 18th, 1936. Neither suspect had been involved in original the bank robbery, and it was never determined why they killed Sergeant Booth and Sheriff Wilson.
Officer Wilson died just two days after his 43rd birthday. He was survived by his wife, five children, and his mother.
He is buried in Nashville Cemetery in Boone County, Missouri.