Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch: Sunday, December 20, 1885
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 20, 1885
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Hanged in 1886
Deputy Sheriff John Murphy was shot and killed in Walnut Creek by man he was questioning about the theft of a gold watch.
The man had previously murdered a prospector and thought that was why Deputy Murphy was coming to question him. He saw the deputy approaching, hid, and then shot him in the back.
The suspect then buried Deputy Murphy's body under his cabin and fled the area. The suspect's wife reported the murder to the county sheriff. The subject was later caught, convicted, and hanged on February 5th, 1886.
Deputy Murphy was interred in Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.