Deputy Sheriff Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie, Hemphill County Sheriff's Department, Texas

Deputy Sheriff Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie

Hemphill County Sheriff's Department, Texas

End of Watch Saturday, July 12, 1980

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Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie

Deputy Sheriff Corky Guthrie was shot and killed as he answered a silent alarm at a local drug store in Canadian at 3:46 a.m.

He was hit with two shotgun blasts before he exited his cruiser. The first shot was from several yards away; then, the suspect opened the driver's side of the patrol car and shot him at point-blank range. When Deputy Guthrie was found, his car was still running, and his gun was still holstered.

The suspect, 27, was apprehended the following day. After two trials ended with hung juries, his third trial resulted in a capital murder conviction and death sentence. On February 3, 1982, the Texas Court of Appeals ordered a new trial. On September 26, 1982, he was again convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. On July 24, 1985, another trial was ordered. He died on Huntsville Penitentiary's death row on June 17, 1986.

Deputy Guthrie had served with the Hemphill County Sheriff's Department for over one year and previously served with the Perryton Police Department. He was survived by his wife and several children.

Bio

Age 52
Tour 2 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Died on death row

alarm, ambush, convicted felon, robbery

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Most Recent Reflection

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My Daddy was the one who pulled Corky from his patrol car. My mother had heard Corky breath his last breath over the radio as she started my Daddy's patrol car for him. The day I had always feared hit so close to home that it hurt. Corky was a good friend. I was a sophomore in high school and I watch my Daddy and Mama change forever. Paul Berry Bush had said he came to town to kill 2 people and then named my parents. They would've been out patrolling that night but Corky told them to go home because it was Mama's birthday. They objected but finally went home. Who would've ever thought all our lives would change within hours. Corkys family and ours were all close. I, in a sense, lost my Daddy that day also, it took several years and grandkids for my Daddy to get out of Law enforcement and get back to himself.
Rest In Peace Corky you've never been forgotten. You and Daddy are now together in Heaven and I hope you are going fishing everyday.

Dau/Sheila Wright Helton
Ret/Hemphill Co Sheriff CH Wright

December 22, 2024