DOB: 03-17-1961 DOC#: 860214 White Male
Marion County Superior Court
Judge John
R. Barney, Jr.
Prosecutor: John Commons, Larry Sells
Defense: Robert V. Clutter, Jeffrey Baldwin
Date of Murder: March 14, 1991
Victim(s): Melvin Hillis W/M/68; Robert Beeler W/M/47 (No relationship to Thompson)
Method of Murder: shooting with handgun
Summary: Hillis and his employee, Robert Beeler, were shot to death during a robbery by Thompson at Hills Auto Sales on Brookville Road in Indianapolis. The handgun used by Thompson was previously owned by Wesley Crandall. Evidence that Thompson was convicted of murdering Crandall in New Castle was admitted at the guilt trial as well as the penalty phase.
Conviction: Murder (2 counts), Robbery (2 counts)
Sentencing: May 25, 1996 (Death Sentence, 40 years)
Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Robbery, 2 murders, Convicted of another murder
Mitigating Circumstances: dysfunctional family, difficult family upbringing
Direct Appeal:
Thompson v. State, 690 N.E.2d 224 (Ind. December 23, 1997)
Conviction Reversed 5-0 DP Vacated 5-0
(Details of prior murder, and Thompson's conviction of that murder,
should not have been admitted, even though murder weapon was stolen from
prior murder victim)
Boehm Opinion; Shepard, Dickson, Sullivan, Selby, concur