Killing of Martin Chudick in North Carolina in 1953

Incident

Case summary

Martin Chudick (1928-1953) was killed by prison guard Dave S. Hall in Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina. Chudick was allegedly creating a disturbance as he worked on a prison road gang and was moved to a cell. When he was ordered out of the cell, he allegedly drew a handmade weapon. A struggle with prison guards ensued, and Hall fatally shot him. Coroner concluded that Hall acted in self-defense.

Victim(s):

Martin Chudick


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Harvey Cook

Dave Samuel Hall

Roy Ledford

Virgil Vance

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1953-01-02
Location: Three Mile, Avery County, North Carolina
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: refusing to work; refusing to leave his cell to report to the superintendent's office; attacking a guard with a knife

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Charlotte 44-232

DOJ case ID:

144-55-36


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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