William Eugene Thompson

Murderer

2known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Graves County, Kentucky, USA
Date of birth: J uly 26, 1951
Age at first offence: 23
Characteristics: murder for hire, escape
Victim profile: ??? / Fred Cash (his prison farm supervisor)
Method of murder: ??? / Hitting with a hammer
Date(s) of murder: 1974 / 1986
Years active: 1974–1986
Date of arrest: May 9, 1986
Status: Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on March 18, 1998

Case Summary

Case overview

William Eugene Thompson (DOB 7-26-51) was sentenced to death on March 18, 1998. The case reached the Supreme Court of Kentucky as Thompson v. Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Background

Thompson was from Pike County, Kentucky. He was serving a life sentence at the Western Kentucky Farm Center for the offense of willful murder for hire in Pike County.

The offence

On May 9, 1986, Thompson killed Correctional Officer Fred Cash at the Western Kentucky Farm Center in Graves County. While working with an inmate crew at the dairy, Thompson struck Correctional Officer Fred Cash repeatedly in the head with a hammer. He dragged the body into a barn stall.

After killing Fred Cash, Thompson took the victim’s wallet, keys, and knife. He then drove the prison farm van.

Thompson attempted to escape by taking the prison van to a bus station.

Investigation and arrest

Police arrested Thompson in a bus station on his way to Indiana.

Plea and charges

Thompson entered a plea of guilty on January 12, 1995, to the following charges:

Capital Murder
Robbery in the First Degree
Escape in the First Degree

The guilty plea related to the incident that occurred on May 9, 1986.

Trial and conviction history

Thompson was convicted and sentenced to death in October 1986 in Lyon County for the killing of Correctional Officer Fred Cash.

Seven years later, the Kentucky Supreme Court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial. Thompson also won a change of venue from Lyon County to Graves County.

After the venue change, Thompson was sentenced to life for the 1986 murder of Correctional Officer Fred Cash in Graves County on March 18, 1998. The record states he was serving that life sentence at the Western Kentucky Farm Center.

Sentencing and appeal outcome

On March 18, 1998, Thompson was sentenced to death in Graves County.

Victim

Fred Cash was the victim, and he was a Correctional Officer.

Timeline

May 9, 1986 — Thompson struck Correctional Officer Fred Cash repeatedly in the head with a hammer, dragged the body into a barn stall, took the victim’s wallet, keys, and knife, and drove the prison farm van to attempt escape.
October 1986 — Thompson was convicted and sentenced to death in Lyon County.
January 12, 1995 — Thompson entered a plea of guilty to Capital Murder, Robbery in the First Degree, and Escape in the First Degree.
March 18, 1998 — Thompson was sentenced to life for the 1986 murder of Correctional Officer Fred Cash in Graves County; Thompson was also sentenced to death in Graves County.
Seven years later (after October 1986) — The Kentucky Supreme Court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial; Thompson won a change of venue from Lyon County to Graves County.

Other details

Thompson reported for prisoner work detail while serving his life sentence for murder for hire in Pike County. He then carried out the assault on Correctional Officer Fred Cash while on work detail.

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