The Unforgiving Path of Thomas Wayne Crump

Thomas Wayne Crump, a name once whispered in fear across New Mexico and Nevada, was an American serial killer whose life unfolded like a relentless nightmare. Born in 1940 in Muncie, Indiana, Crump's journey from a troubled youth to a notorious criminal paints a chilling portrait of a man whose violent tendencies knew no bounds.

The Troubled Beginnings

Crump's early years were marred by delinquency and escalating violence. As a teenager, he fell into a life of crime with friends Larry Morris and William Wagner, honing their skills in car theft during the mid-1950s. By 1958, Crump's criminal activities had taken a darker turn when he was charged with attempting to kill a woman following a dispute involving his mother.

Despite the seriousness of his actions, Crump managed to elude significant prison time. In 1960, he faced charges for attempting to rob a man in a hotel bathroom, escaping severe punishment by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of larceny. His criminal record grew in 1961 with an accusation of kidnapping, though he claimed the victim had willingly entered the car. The following year, Crump's luck ran out, and he received a 1 to 5-year sentence for robbing a man of $82.70.

A Path of Destruction

The early 1960s saw Crump and a cellmate contemplating escape from the Indiana State Reformatory, a plan that never materialized. By 1966, he was a free man, but accusations of robbery quickly followed him. His move to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1967 marked the beginning of a more violent chapter. Here, he attempted to murder a clerk and later stabbed a waitress in Michigan, resulting in a conviction for attempted murder.

The Serial Killer Emerges

By 1976, Crump had returned to Albuquerque, finding work as a construction worker and later as a KFC manager. It was here that he met 16-year-old Rhonda Higdon, who saw in him a kind, mature man, oblivious to his violent history. They married and had a child, but their relationship soured, leading Rhonda to file for divorce on July 13, 1980. That same day, Crump's descent into murder began. He asked Rhonda to meet him one last time, promising dinner but instead driving her to the Rio Grande, where he shot her five times, disposing of her body in a ditch.

Fleeing from the law, Crump's violent spree continued on September 9 when he attacked and robbed a 58-year-old man who had offered him a ride. Crump's trail of blood led him to Las Vegas, where he murdered Jodie Jameson, a prostitute, on October 4. His brutality did not stop there; he opened fire on his roommates the next day and killed 78-year-old Irving Plaisted in Albuquerque shortly after.

Capture and Escape

Crump's reign of terror ended on November 16, 1980, when a motel fight led to his arrest. Faced with mounting evidence, he confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the killings in New Mexico. Yet, even incarceration couldn't contain his violent nature. In 1981, Crump participated in a deadly attack on prison guards.

His audacity reached a new height on June 17, 1982, when he escaped from prison, only to commit another murder upon his return to Albuquerque. He shot cab driver Ian Smith after a failed robbery attempt, marking his fourth known victim.

The Final Convictions

Captured once more, Crump faced additional charges, pleading guilty to murder and attempted murder, receiving a 62-year sentence atop his life terms. Extradited to Nevada, he confessed to Jameson's murder, displaying no remorse and claiming her death was justified in his twisted view. The Nevada courts sentenced him to death in May 1984, a penalty he accepted as deserved.

Despite his conviction, Crump continued to boast of his crimes, claiming to have killed seven people, starting with a priest at age 16. His execution, scheduled for November 14, 1986, was delayed, and he remained a threat even on death row, attacking another inmate in 1992.

The End of the Road

Thomas Wayne Crump spent the remainder of his life on death row at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. His violent journey ended on June 14, 2018, when he died at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of fear and brutality that would haunt the memories of those who crossed his path.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Thomas Wayne Crump
• "NM killer sentenced to death in Nevada," Associated Press, May 3, 1984.
• "Three Youths Charged," The Star Press, August 28, 1958.
• Douglas Walker, "Life and death of a murderer," The Star Press, August 11, 2019.
• "Fear Quells Escape Of 2 Inmates," The Indianapolis Star, October 15, 1963.
• Dan Vukelich, "Father of slain woman never 'knew' his son-in-law," The Albuquerque Tribune, May 1, 1981.
• David Steinberg, "Sandoval County Tightens Security To House Six Pen Inmates," The Albuquerque Journal, September 5, 1981.
• Ricardo Gandara, "Convicted killer at large may have shot cab driver," The Albuquerque Tribune, June 18, 1982.
• "Albuquerque police find inmate shot," Associated Press, June 20, 1982.
• "Multiple-slayer's execution delayed," The Albuquerque Tribune, November 13, 1986.
• Mike Shoro, "Convict dies in Nevada prison 34 years after landing on death row," Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 15, 2018.
• "Nevada inmate convicted in death of escort dies in prison," Associated Press, June 16, 2018.