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Sheriff Earl Sermon Dyess, Sr. | Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Florida
Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Florida

Sheriff

Earl Sermon Dyess, Sr.

Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Florida

End of Watch: Sunday, August 17, 1980

Biographical Info

Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: August 17, 1980
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 137 years

Sheriff Earl Dyess was stabbed to death while investigating the sound of gunfire in an alley behind his home at 547 East Sagamore Avenue in Clewiston.

As he confronted two teenagers, he demanded one of them give him his .22 caliber pistol. As a struggle began for possession of the weapon, the 18-year-old's 15-year-old stepbrother stabbed him in the heart. Both boys were apprehended the next day.

The 15-year-old, who was tried as an adult, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 137 years. He died in prison in 2021. His stepbrother, charged with manslaughter, had his case dismissed in 1981.

Sheriff Dyess had served with the Hendry County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.