Marion Lee "Corky" Guthrie, a 52-year-old white male, was a Deputy Sheriff in Hemphill County, Texas. He was tragically killed on July 12, 1980, while responding to a silent alarm at Lad's Pharmacy in Canadian, Texas. Guthrie was ambushed and shot twice with a shotgun before he could exit his patrol car. The first shot was fired from several yards away, and the second shot was delivered at point-blank range after the suspect opened the driver's side door of the patrol car.
When Guthrie was found, his car was still running, and his gun was still holstered.
The suspect, Paul Berry Bush, a 27-year-old man from Amarillo, Texas, was apprehended the following day. Bush was charged with capital murder. His first two trials ended in hung juries, but he was eventually convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in his third trial. The Texas Court of Appeals ordered a new trial on February 3, 1982, and Bush was again convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on September 26, 1982. Another trial was ordered on July 24, 1985, but Bush died on death row at Huntsville Penitentiary on June 17, 1986.
Deputy Guthrie had served with the Hemphill County Sheriff's Department for over a year and had previously served with the Perryton Police Department. He was survived by his wife and several children. The impact of his death was deeply felt by his family and the community, as he was remembered as a dedicated officer and a good friend. The tragic event not only took Guthrie's life but also had a lasting effect on those who knew him, including his colleagues and their families.
