Nevada County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas
End of Watch Thursday, November 12, 1992
Add to My HeroesR. D. Purifoy
Deputy Purifoy was beaten to death after responding to a family disturbance call.
Deputy Purifoy was dispatched to the scene around 5:40 pm, and about 6:00 pm another call concerning a deputy being down was received. The sheriff arrived around 6:30 pm and found the deputy's body, which had been badly beaten, with an iron of some sort.
The suspect came out of the house holding something behind his back and when ordered to remove his hand and drop what he had, he produced a handgun. He then turned and went back inside the house. The sheriff fired three shots at the suspect, who fired five times in return. The suspect was wounded in the exchange of gunfire, surrendered, and taken to the now defunct Nevada County Hospital for treatment.
The suspect, 39, with a history of mental problems, was convicted of capital murder and was sentenced to life without parole. He died in prison on June 13, 2002.
Deputy Purifoy had served with the Nevada Count Sheriff's Department for 26 years. He was survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 74
- Tour 26 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Assault
- Weapon Blunt object
- Offender Died in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 10 ReflectionsRest in peace Deputy Purifoy.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
November 11, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths

Patrolman Joseph Barlow
McAlester Police Department, OK
EOW: March 20, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Jeremy McCain
Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, OK
EOW: March 20, 2023

Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith
Hermann Police Department, MO
EOW: March 12, 2023

Master Trooper James R. Bailey
Indiana State Police, IN
EOW: March 3, 2023

Police Officer Andres M. Vasquez Lasso
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: March 1, 2023

Correctional Officer Jay Miller
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: February 11, 2023

Detention Officer Kenneth Fowler
Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office, OK
EOW: February 19, 2023

Sergeant Christopher D. Fitzgerald
Temple University Police Department, PA
EOW: February 18, 2023

Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Memphis Police Department, TN
EOW: February 18, 2023