Thompson V. Oklahoma - Background

Background

William Wayne Thompson was a 15-year-old repeat offender from Grady County, Oklahoma. His sister Vicki was married to Charles Keene, who was routinely accused of beating Vicki and William. William and three other men- Tony Mann, Richard Jones and Bobby Glass- then kidnapped Charles on the night of January 23, 1983 in Amber, Oklahoma. Charles attempted to escape, running to neighbor John "Possum" Brown's door. He reportedly knocked on the door and screamed, "Possum, open the ----ed door, they're going to kill me". Brown opened the door only to see four men dragging Keene from the door and beating on him. When Brown called the police, the assailants grabbed Keene and fled.

Keene's body was found later in the nearby river, his body split throat to abdomen. He had multiple bruises and two gunshot wounds, along with a concrete block tied to his legs. William was arrested later, after Vicki confessed to the police that William said that "he had taken care of him". All three other men were convicted of their crimes and sentenced to death, although Bobby Glass later had his sentence repealed. Thompson was arrested and then went through a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he was eligible to stand trial as an adult. He was found responsible for his deeds and then convicted by the District Court of Grady County in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He was sentenced to death by the jury.