Trial Insider: People v. Adam Thomas - Crossbow murder

Crime News Insider

On July 21, 2023, 20 year-old Adam Thomas of Sacramento was tried for 1st degree murder for the death of his brother, Trenton Thomas. Trenton was found shot to death by a crossbow in a park in San Diego. Was it an accident or was it a murder? Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman joined the podcast to discuss this trial.

Facts:

Adam drove from Sacramento to San Diego and told his family he was going to San Diego to visit Trenton for his birthday. Adam and Trenton went to a park in San Diego and Adam blind folded his brother so that he could surprise him with his birthday gift. While blindfolded, Adam went to the trunk, grabbed a crossbow, and shot his brother in the head. Trenton ran over 100 feet but succumbed from his injuries after pulling the arrow from his head. Adam fled the scene and tossed the crossbow into a canyon, which was later found by police. Officers investigated the case and served a search warrant of Adam’s home and car in Sacramento, finding a matching quiver for the crossbow and handwritten directions to the park. Adam admitted everything, except said he was giving his brother the crossbow as a gift and it accidentally discharged.

Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman prosecuted the case and convinced the jury it was 1st degree murder. Adam Thomas was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake?

A. In Indiana, it's illegal to sniff model glue with the intent to cause a condition of euphoria.

B. In New Hampshire, it's illegal to hypnotize a person with the intent for that person to commit a crime.

C. In Texas, it's illegal to sell or offer to sell your organs.

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