| Kenneth C. Patrick
was the first United States park ranger murdered in the line of duty when he was
shot by deer poachers at Point Reyes National Seashore, August 1973. Mr.
Patrick had a wife and three children.
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Veronza Bowers, Alan Veale
and Jonathan Shoher were attempting to poach a deer with a crossbow
at Point Reyes when they were confronted by Patrick. Patrick was shot
3 times with a 9mm hand gun. His body was found on Mount Vision Road
the next morning, August 5th.
In April 1974 Bowers, from Mill Valley, was convicted of the murder of Mr. Patrick. He
received a life sentence which was later reduced to 30 years.
The U.S. Parole Commission vetoed Bowers parole dates in 2001 and
2004.
Veale confessed naming Bowers as the shooter. Charges against Veale
were dropped, and Shoher received a 10-years.
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Mr. Patrick has a visitor center at Drakes Beach and the Kenneth C. Patrick
Trail in the Grand Canyon, where he is buried, both named in his memory.
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