Thomas Manning

Case identification

Thomas Manning

Background

Thomas Manning was born to a Boston postal clerk. He shined shoes and raised pigeons as a youth, and he worked as a stockboy. He joined the US Military in 1963, and in 1964 he was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was then transferred to spend the following year in the Vietnam War. Some time shortly after 1965, he was sentenced to five years in prison for armed robbery and assault. He served the last ten months in Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Cedar Junction.

After his release in 1971, he married Carol, and they produced three children: Jeremy, Tamara, and Jonathan.

The offence

Thomas Manning was convicted for his role in killing New Jersey police officer Philip Lamonaco during a traffic stop on December 21 1981. The killings launched the largest manhunt in NJ police history.

Manning was also involved with leftist militants who bombed a series of US military and commercial institutes in the 1980s. The bombings were carried out as armed propaganda against apartheid in South Africa, U.S. imperialism in Latin and Central America, including a concerted campaign against Mobil Oil and U.S. military targets in solidarity with the FALN's campaign for the release of the five Nationalist prisoners.

Investigation

A series of arrests followed the manhunt. Manning and his wife Carol were arrested on April 24, 1985. Other arrests took place on November 4th 1984 and involved Raymond Levasseur, Patricia Gross, Richard Williams, Jaan Laaman, and Barbara Curzi.

All of those individuals were associated with the United Freedom Front.

Arrest

Raymond Levasseur, Patricia Gross, Richard Williams, Jaan Laaman, and Barbara Curzi were arrested on November 4th 1984. Thomas Manning and his wife Carol were arrested on April 24, 1985.

Trial

At trial, Manning pled self-defence.

Defense counsel showed that Lamonaco had emptied his entire .357 Magnum clip at Manning and his associates.

Sentencing

Manning was sentenced on February 19, 1987.

He was also sentenced to 58 years in federal prison for a series of bombings.

Manning also described being sentenced to 80 years in New Jersey for the self-defense killing of a state trooper. He stated the sentence included “(two 25 to life, plus 20 for armed robbery, plus 10 for escape)”.

At present I am at the U.S penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. where I am classified as a high max prisoner restricted to a high accountability status (orange card) that requires me to be checked in every two hours during the daytime and evening hours.

Appeals

No appeal history was included in the provided material.

Outcome

Manning was sentenced to death on February 19, 1987.

Other details

United States Penitentiary and incarceration locations

Prisons housed United States Penitentiary, Hazelton Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Cedar Junction, United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield (1999 hip surgery), United States Penitentiary, Marion ADX Florence Federal Correctional Institution.

The material included the following claim by Manning:

I completed my sentence in May of '71-took one quick tour of the old streets, and headed for the country, the woods, and small towns of Northern New England, where I met Carol, married, and had a child, the first of three. Jeremy, Tamara, and Jonathan. The second two came during our ten years underground.

It also included information Manning associated with an organization named SCAR in Portland, Maine and described the work he did in that organization.

I was captured in 1985, sentenced to 58 years in federal prison for a series of bombings carried out as armed propaganda against apartheid in South Africa, U.S. imperialism in Latin and Central America, including a concerted campaign against Mobil Oil and U.S. military targets in solidarity with the FALN's campaign for the release of the five Nationalist prisoners.

The material also included:

I'm also sentenced to 80 years- (two 25 to life, plus 20 for armed robbery, plus 10 for escape) in New Jersey for the self-defense killing of a state trooper.

Trooper Philip Lamonaco (victim details)

Trooper Philip Joseph Lamonaco of the New Jersey State Police was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Knowlton Township.

• End of Watch: Monday, December 21, 1981
• Age: 32
• Tour of Duty: 11 years
• Badge Number: 2663
• Incident Details: Cause of Death: Gunfire
• Date of Incident: Monday, December 21, 1981
• Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
• Suspect Information: Two sentenced to death

The incident occurred when he stopped two members of a radical environmental group known as the United Freedom Front on I-80. The suspects robbed banks to fund their radical operations, which included bombing energy sites.

Several suspects were apprehended, and two of them were sentenced to death for Trooper Lamonaco's murder. A third suspect was sentenced to 30 years in prison on federal charges. He was also sentenced to life on state charges, which will start when he is released from federal custody.

On July 19, 1983, Lieutenant Lester Pagano was killed in an automobile accident while investigating Trooper Lamonaco's murder.

Trooper Lamonaco was employed with the New Jersey State Police for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

A seven mile portion of I-80 was renamed and dedicated in Trooper Lamonaco's memory.

University removal and apology

In September 2006, the University of Southern Maine removed his art from an art presentation and apologised for allowing him to be heralded as a "political prisoner" by event organizers.

Projected release date and custody status

His projected release date was August 20, 2020. The material indicated he was currently being held in a federal prison in Florida.

Timeline-related dated events included in the material (ordered)

• December 21 1981 — Trooper Philip Lamonaco was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Knowlton Township.
• November 4th 1984 — Raymond Levasseur, Patricia Gross, Richard Williams, Jaan Laaman, and Barbara Curzi were arrested.
• April 24, 1985 — Thomas Manning and his wife Carol were arrested.
• February 19, 1987 — Thomas Manning was sentenced to death.
• September 2006 — University of Southern Maine removed his art and apologised for allowing him to be heralded as a "political prisoner" by event organizers.

Quotes included verbatim

“Threat to the secure and orderly running”