In the winter of 1972, the lives of two Delaware State Troopers were tragically cut short following a violent encounter in Pennsylvania. Trooper David C. Yarrington, a 24-year-old United States Navy veteran who had been with the state police for nearly three years, succumbed to his injuries on January 6, 1972. He and his partner, Trooper Ronald Carey, had been investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a motel near the Pennsylvania state line. Their investigation led them to a nearby hotel where they spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one used by the suspects.
As the troopers began to investigate the vehicle, they encountered a 30-year-old male suspect and a struggle ensued. During the confrontation, the suspect's 19-year-old female companion emerged and opened fire on both troopers. Trooper Carey was killed at the scene, while Trooper Yarrington was gravely wounded and died the following day. The couple, who were from Canada and had a history of armed robberies across Michigan and Ohio, fled the scene. Law enforcement officials would later describe them as a modern-day 'Bonnie and Clyde.'
The day after the fatal shooting, a Maryland State Trooper spotted the suspects' vehicle. A high-speed chase ensued near Centreville, Maryland, which ended when the trooper fired a shot that struck the male suspect in the head, killing him instantly and causing the car to crash. His girlfriend was then taken into custody. During questioning, she claimed the troopers had been beating her boyfriend, and that the revolver she pulled from her dress had accidentally discharged multiple times.
The female suspect was ultimately convicted on two counts of armed robbery and was sentenced to death. However, her sentence was later commuted to life in prison by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. As of 2017, she was still incarcerated. Trooper Yarrington was survived by his wife and child. He and Trooper Carey had joined the Delaware State Police at the same time, forging a bond in their service that ended in a shared, tragic fate.
