"Heroes Live Forever" - the story of Virginia State Trooper Jerry Hines

McLean, VA (August 12, 2025) - On February 20, 1989, Virginia State Trooper Jerry Hines was working the late shift when he spotted a motorist driving erratically. Suspecting that the driver was intoxicated, the 28-year police veteran pulled the vehicle over. He contacted the local police dispatcher to run a registration check on the car and to request backup. But when another trooper arrived on the scene six minutes later, he found Trooper Hines lying dead in front of his patrol vehicle. Police determined the suspect vehicle belonged to a man named Ripley Marston. When police arrived at Marston’s house, they found the 68-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound. The real killer, it turned out, was a man named Dennis Wayne Eaton. He had murdered Marston and stolen his car a short while before Eaton was stopped by Trooper Hines. Police were able to track down Eaton and a high speed pursuit ensued. During the chase Eaton lost control of his vehicle and crashed. His girlfriend was with him in the car. But before police could get either of them out of the car, Eaton shot and killed his girlfriend and then shot himself in a failed suicide attempt. Less than a year later, Eaton was sentenced to death and was executed in 1998. Listen to the podcast to learn more.Citizens Behind the Badge communicates through Substack! Please share this post and encourage other law enforcement officers and supporters to subscribe for free and receive news and updates. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit behindbadge.substack.com