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Harold Gene Matthews

Case from Walnut Ridge, AR dated Jun 03, 1983

Victim Details

Harold Gene Matthews

Male

White / Caucasian

Walnut Ridge

AR

1983-06-03

38

Harold

Gene Matthews

Primary Suspect Deceased

07/24/2026

Case Description

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On a humid evening on June 3, 1983, the quiet of rural Lawrence County, Arkansas, was shattered by a violent shootout that claimed the life of Sheriff Harold 'Gene' Matthews. The 38-year-old male lawman was killed while attempting to apprehend a heavily armed federal fugitive named Gordon Kahl. The events unfolded at a fortified, bunker-like house built into a hillside just outside of Smithville.

The chain of events leading to the fatal confrontation began months earlier and hundreds of m ...
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Links to Additional Sources (5)

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  • Sheriff Harold Gene Matthews - Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)
  • Harold Gene Matthews (1946-1983) - Find a Grave Memorial
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I've been thinking a lot about the Ginter couple's involvement in this tragic event. It must be so c... ...Read More
    11/14/2023
    I’ve been thinking a lot about the Ginters’ role in this tragic event. It’s tough to wrap my h... ...Read More
    06/19/2023
    I've always felt uneasy about the Ginters' role in this tragic event. It's tough to comprehend how t... ...Read More
    05/13/2023
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