Jason Thornburg

Overview

Jason Alan Thornburg, born on August 27, 1980, in Cerritos, California, is a notorious Native American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked the community in Texas. Convicted for the dismemberment and murders of three victims—David Lueras, Lauren Phillips, and Maricruz Mathis—Thornburg's case is marked by his chilling confessions and the ritualistic nature of his crimes.

Quick Facts

• Born: August 27, 1980 (age 44)
• Location: Cerritos, California, U.S.
• Conviction: Capital murder (x3)
• Criminal Penalty: Death
• Victims: 3 confirmed, 5 confessed
• Crime Dates: 2017–2021
• Locations: Texas, Arizona
• Imprisoned at: Polunsky Unit

The 2021 Fort Worth Murders

The horror began over a one-week period in September 2021, during which Thornburg committed a series of murders in Euless, Texas—a suburb of Fort Worth. As an electrician's apprentice, he had been living at a local inn since July 2021. His motivations, deeply rooted in his skewed interpretation of the Bible, led him to believe he was "committing sacrifices" for God.

The Murders

While the exact dates of the murders are not publicly confirmed, it's speculated that the first murder occurred between September 15 and 17, 2021. Thornburg's first victim was 42-year-old David Lueras, whom he shared a room with. Reports indicate that Thornburg brutally slit Lueras's throat before dismembering his body—he even confessed to eating a part of Lueras's heart.

Over the next four days, Thornburg escalated his violence by murdering two more women: 34-year-old Lauren Phillips and 33-year-old Maricruz Mathis. He detailed how he killed one of them by slitting her throat and later strangled and stabbed the other. After each murder, he dismembered their corpses, storing the body parts in a storage bin. Disturbingly, Thornburg confessed to engaging in cannibalism and even sexual acts with the corpse of Phillips before dismembering her.

Disposal of the Bodies

By September 22, 2021, after the grisly murders, Thornburg disposed of the remains by placing the body parts in a nearby dumpster and setting them ablaze. This fire drew the attention of local residents and authorities, leading to the discovery of the remains.

Arrest and Confession

On September 22, 2021, police responded to the dumpster fire and uncovered the horrifying evidence of Thornburg's crimes. Initially, they identified Lueras, but the two female victims were misidentified as a child and a teenager until further investigation revealed their true identities.

Thornburg was arrested on September 27, just five days after the discovery. In October 2021, Lauren Phillips's mother filed a criminal complaint against him, suspecting Thornburg of killing her daughter, who had been staying with him at the inn. That same month, a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation to assess Thornburg's mental state.

By December 2021, he was indicted on three counts of capital murder. Under Texas law, this could lead to either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. By this time, the police had successfully identified the two female victims.

In May 2022, prosecutors announced their intention to seek the death penalty for Thornburg, linking it explicitly to the Fort Worth murders.

Confession of Other Murders

While in custody for the Fort Worth murders, Thornburg took responsibility for additional homicides. He confessed to murdering his girlfriend, 37-year-old Tanya Begay, in Arizona in 2017, and his former roommate, 61-year-old Mark Jewell, in May 2021. Both murders, much like those in Fort Worth, were claimed to be sacrificial in nature.

Begay went missing in March 2017 during a trip to Arizona with Thornburg, and he was later indicted for her murder. The investigation remains open as of 2022. As for Jewell, Thornburg confessed to slitting his throat and causing a house fire by tampering with a natural gas line. Although initially a suspect, Thornburg wasn't arrested until the string of murders in 2021.

Death Penalty Trial

The trial for the Fort Worth murders commenced on November 7, 2024, in Tarrant County, presided over by Judge Douglas A. Allen. Thornburg's defense argued for an insanity plea, citing his delusional beliefs driven by religion and mental illness. Conversely, the prosecution painted him as a manipulative individual who was aware of his actions, citing his methodical disposal of the bodies.

On November 20, 2024, the jury found Thornburg guilty of all three counts of capital murder. The prosecution emphasized the depravity of his actions and argued for the death penalty, stating he posed a danger to society and even to fellow inmates, referencing incidents of him crafting weapons while incarcerated.

The defense claimed that Thornburg suffered from partial fetal alcohol syndrome and a traumatic brain injury, arguing that he believed he was performing divine sacrifices. They pushed for life imprisonment without parole instead of the death penalty.

Ultimately, on December 4, 2024, the jury unanimously sentenced Thornburg to death for the murders of Lueras, Phillips, and Mathis. He is currently on death row at the Allan B. Polunsky Unit. Death sentences in Texas automatically undergo appeals, with an average wait of over 11 years before execution.

Sources

• "Evil' cannibal killer who slaughtered three and ate human heart in 'ritual sacrifice' given death penalty." The Mirror. December 6, 2024.
• "Who is Jason Thornburg? Texas cannibal serial killer sentenced to death." CBS News. December 4, 2024.
• "Tarrant County jury sends man convicted of killing, dismembering 3 to death row." The Dallas Morning News. December 4, 2024.
• "Texas Man Killed and Dismembered 3 at Motel, Police Say." The New York Times. October 1, 2021.
• "Texas man admits to 5 killings, felt compelled to sacrifice." The Independent. September 28, 2021.
• "Affidavit: Accused Killer Jason Thornburg Says Slayings Were Human Sacrifices." CBS News. September 28, 2021.
• "Did you eat anybody?' Suspect in Euless motel killings says he took a bite of man's heart." Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 12, 2024.
• "Three dismembered bodies found in burning Texas dumpster." Associated Press. September 28, 2021.
• "Police find three burned and dismembered bodies in dumpster fire." The Independent. September 25, 2021.
• "Trial begins in Tarrant County for alleged serial killer Jason Thornburg." CBS News. November 7, 2024.
• "Serial killer who 'sacrificed' three people and left bodies in dumpster sentenced to death." The Independent. December 5, 2024.
• "Texas man who confessed to killing girlfriend in AZ sentenced to death for murders of 3 others." AZ Central. December 6, 2024.

Feel free to dive deeper into this chilling case, as there's so much more to unravel when it comes to the mind of Jason Thornburg.