1902 - 1933

On June 17, 1933, Special Agent Raymond J. Caffrey became one of the victims of the “Kansas City Massacre.”

Special Agent Caffrey, two local police detectives, and the Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Office reported to Union Station to meet two other FBI agents and Police Chief Otto Reed of McAlester, Oklahoma, who were returning escapee Frank Nash to the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. While entering a car, they were fired upon by a group trying to free Nash. Two special agents were wounded while Nash, Chief Reed, the two Kansas City detectives, and Special Agent Caffrey were killed. The killers were identified as Vernon C. Miller, “Pretty Boy” Floyd, and Adam Richetti. Floyd avoided apprehension until October 22, 1934, when he was killed by FBI agents near East Liverpool, Ohio while resisting arrest. Later, Richetti was arrested in Ohio, following a gun battle with local officers. During his trial, Richetti was found guilty and was subsequently executed. Vernon C. Miller was found dead on November 29, 1933 near Detroit, Michigan.

Special Agent Caffrey was born in May 1902 in McCook, Nebraska. After attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and being admitted to the Nebraska Bar, he entered on duty with the FBI. As a special agent with the Bureau, Special Agent Caffrey worked in the Boston, Charlotte, and Kansas City offices.

Read more about the day's tragic events in the Kansas City Massacre webpage.