George County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch Tuesday, December 21, 1948
Add to My HeroesJohn Elbert Nelson
Sheriff John E. Nelson was shot and killed as he responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence near Lucedale.
Sheriff Nelson went to the home of a local farmer with the farmer's 18 year-old daughter who told him that she ran for help when her father became violent and abusive with her mother. As Sheriff Nelson stepped out of his car, he was met with a shotgun blast from the father who was hiding behind a nearby fence. The suspect fled in the sheriff's car which was found ten miles away, wrecked, with the daughter's body inside. She had also been killed by a shotgun blast. Back at her home, deputies discovered the buck-shot riddled bodies of her mother and her two month old daughter.
The suspect, who was captured at his mother's home in Hurley on Christmas day, admitted that he had killed all four. He was convicted of Sheriff Nelson's murder and executed in the electric chair on February 2nd, 1951.
Sheriff Nelson was survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 45
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Monday, December 20, 1948
- Weapon Shotgun
- Offender Executed in 1951
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsRest in Peace, my brother of the Badge! God Bless your family, friends and Department. It is gratifying to know your murderer was dispensed justice.
Bob Reed, Retired Police Officer
South Lake Tahoe Police Department
December 22, 2014
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Jeff Bain
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: January 3, 2021

Correctional Officer David A. Christensen
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: December 29, 2020

Lieutenant John Reynolds
Garden Grove Police Department, CA
EOW: January 17, 2021

Corrections Officer Joseph A. Martini
Ulster County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: January 17, 2021

Police Officer Arturo Villegas
Alamo Police Department, GA
EOW: January 10, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jon Melvin
Grant County Sheriff's Office, WA
EOW: December 11, 2020

Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Brandon Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Jay Hughes
Kalispel Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: January 6, 2021