Chloe Francis Stanton, known as Frankie, was 43 and serving as chief of police in Bradshaw, West Virginia, when she was shot while handling a prisoner at the town’s police station. The incident began August 27, 1998, when 61-year-old Charlie Vance rode into Bradshaw on horseback and became involved in a disturbance outside a drugstore. Stanton arrested Vance, confiscated a .32-caliber handgun, and brought him to the station. Vance concealed a second weapon, a .22-caliber Derringer in a pouch at his waist.

While seated in the station with relatives present, Vance rose, produced the concealed Derringer and shot Stanton in the head as she moved to answer or make a telephone call. He returned the Derringer to the pouch and left on horseback but was quickly cornered and taken into custody. Stanton was transported for emergency care and died the following day; her death was later classified as a line-of-duty killing.

Vance was tried and on January 24, 2000, convicted of first-degree murder and carrying a concealed deadly weapon; a jury recommended mercy and he received life with mercy plus one year to run consecutively. She left behind a young daughter, her father and several siblings. Does anyone have further details about Stanton’s service in Bradshaw or recollections from the community?