Man Sentenced to Death for Killing and Dismembering Three People in Texas
A Texas jury has handed down a death sentence to Jason Thornburg, 44, for the brutal murders of three individuals whose dismembered bodies were discovered in a burning dumpster in Fort Worth in 2021.
Last month, a Tarrant County jury found Thornburg guilty of capital murder in the deaths of David Lueras, 42, Lauren Phillips, 34, and Maricruz Mathis, 33. Thornburg had confessed to the killings, according to his arrest warrant.
Prosecutor Amy Allin described Thornburg as “evil” during the trial.
In addition to the three victims, Thornburg also confessed to killing his roommate, Mark Jewell, 61, who was found dead in a house fire earlier that year. His girlfriend, Tanya Begay, a Navajo woman from Gallup, New Mexico, went missing after a trip to Arizona with Thornburg in 2017.
According to the arrest warrant, Thornburg claimed to have a deep understanding of the Bible and believed he was being called to “commit sacrifices.”
Thornburg’s defense team argued for a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The tragic and gruesome details of this case have shocked the community, and Thornburg’s sentencing reflects the severity of his crimes.
