Deputy R. D. Purifoy

R. D. Purifoy

Deputy Purifoy was beaten to death after responding to a family disturbance call.

Deputy Purifoy was dispatched to the scene around 5:40 pm, and about 6:00 pm another call concerning a deputy being down was received. The sheriff arrived around 6:30 pm and found the deputy's body, which had been badly beaten, with an iron of some sort.

The suspect came out of the house holding something behind his back and when ordered to remove his hand and drop what he had, he produced a handgun. He then turned and went back inside the house. The sheriff fired three shots at the suspect, who fired five times in return. The suspect was wounded in the exchange of gunfire, surrendered, and taken to the now defunct Nevada County Hospital for treatment.

The suspect, 39, with a history of mental problems, was convicted of capital murder and was sentenced to life without parole. He died in prison on June 13, 2002.

Deputy Purifoy had served with the Nevada Count Sheriff's Department for 26 years. He was survived by his wife.