In the early spring of 1909, a young lawman named Herman Odom, a 22-year-old male, lost his life in the line of duty near Checotah, Oklahoma. On March 27th, Deputy Sheriff Odom, who had served with the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office for two years, joined a posse to serve a warrant on the leader of a militant Creek Indian group accused of livestock theft.
Odom's own father was the sheriff at the time.
The posse, which also included Checotah Police Marshal Edward Baum, made their way to the suspect's home about 15 miles outside of the town. As they approached the residence, gunfire erupted. Marshal Baum was struck and fatally wounded. In a moment of selfless courage, Deputy Odom rushed to his colleague's aid and was also shot and killed.
The man they had come to arrest was wounded by the officers' return fire but managed to flee the scene. A manhunt ensued, and five months later, the suspect was located and apprehended in Muskogee. He was found to be in critical condition, suffering from three bullet wounds he had sustained during the initial shootout. A few days after his capture, the suspect succumbed to his injuries and died.
