SHERIFF EDWARD PORTER, JR.

Sheriff Porter was a World War II Veteran and had gone to work for the Ocala Electric Utility when he was named Sheriff. He had also at some point been a Highway Patrol Trooper. Sheriff Porters’ opponent in the 1948 election was S. C. M. Thomas. There was some question as to whether or not he was eligible to run, having been already retired from the state pension system. Sheriff Porter beat Thomas by 159 votes.

Sheriff Porter is the first Marion County Sheriff known to have been killed in the line of duty while still in office. (Sheriff Gordon was killed in the line of duty after leaving the office of Sheriff and while he was working for the Ocala Police Department.)

At 10:00 A.M., Friday April 13, 1951, Sheriff Ed Porter was investigating a bad check case at Tomlinson’s Men’s Store. A 16-year-old juvenile, Orion Johnson, had forged a check to pay for a white coat. Sheriff Porter picked up Orion at Howard High School and was taking him out to his house to get the coat. At the house Orion Johnson concealed an ice pick. When they got back in the Sheriff’s car, he stabbed the Sheriff repeatedly as he fumbled for his revolver. Johnson then grabbed the gun and the Sheriff fell from the car to the ground. Johnson shot the Sheriff twice as he tried to get to his feet. The Sheriff tried once again to get up and Johnson shot him again. Johnson then pulled the Sheriff’s body into the car and shot him once more. He then drove about a half a mile down the road, ran the car into a tree, walked to a nearby house where he called a taxi. He changed clothes at home, and then went back to school.

The Sheriff’s body was discovered in his wrecked car about 5:00 P.M. Deputies R. A. McDaniel and Doug Willis found Johnson at his grandmother’s house. A search warrant was obtained, and the gun and Johnson’s bloody clothes were found in Johnson’s room. Confronted with the evidence Johnson gave a full confession. Johnson was taken to the Alachua County jail for his own protection. He was tried and convicted of the murder of Sheriff Ed Porter. In September of 1954 Orion Johnson was executed at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, FL. 

Sheriff Ed Porter was 44 years old and was survived by his wife Iva Mae and three-year-old daughter, Anna Clair.