MP Serial Killer? (PT 1)

[h***@yahoo.com]

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

Yes, since that happens to be my father you are talking about I would hope that you would get the facts straight in your statements and instead of making it sound as if he killed a bunch of people over a span of time state that he killed 3 and tried to kill the fourth all in the same night. Not that it is any better but it would explain a mental break that he did have. Thank you,

Sincerely,
Heather Taylor

[f***@gmail.com]

Post by h***@yahoo.com

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

Yes, since that happens to be my father you are talking about I would hope that you would get the facts straight in your statements and instead of making it sound as if he killed a bunch of people over a span of time state that he killed 3 and tried to kill the fourth all in the same night. Not that it is any better but it would explain a mental break that he did have. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Heather Taylor

Heather. I knew your father. I was a dog handler and spoke to him just hours before this happened. I just wanted to let you know he was really a nice guy. I don't know what happened that night but I recall him having some family issues at the time. I know that must have been very hard on you. I hope and pray you have been able to move forward.

Frank

[h***@gmail.com]

Thank you Frank!!! I know what happened was bad I just get a little upset when people distort the facts of the case or blame him for everything else bad that happened there when my parents weren't even in Missouri yet.

[s***@gmail.com]

Could someone point me in the right direction to find more info on this case? I want to read all the details I can find because I was born lived in the Ft. Wood/Waynesville area all my life. I was 17 years old when these murders happened. I had originally searched for 2 other names, of Teresa Gossage, (you will find her referenced as T. C. Gossage and we called her TC), and Al Marshall, (Alfred Hofman Marshall, I believe was his correct full name). TC Gossage and Al Marshall came up missing about 3-4 months before these murders you are discussing. It was strongly thought at the time, Johnny Thornton had kidnapped them and murdered them also, but their bodies to this day have never been recovered and the case has never been solved. I do remember TC and Al had been to a football game, then to a drive in movie the night they went missing. The drive in, was next door to a trailer park where Thornton lived close to the main gate of Ft. Wood. Their car was also found in a remote location on Ft. Wood toward the south side close to one of the conservation areas. I was just setting here tonight, thinking about old friends, and decided to google their names and I find this page in my web travels. TC and Al would have graduated in 1978 with me from Waynesville and TC was a great friend.

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

[t***@gmail.com]

I was stationed at ft Leonard Wood in the MPs when this happened. I helped train Thornton as a road MP because his specialty was 95c (stockade mp). He appeared normal in every way. I was his supervisor for a while and even co-signed for a small loan from the CU so he could get his truck repaired. He payed off the loan before he was apprehended. Don’t know what triggered these killings. I know his wife had left him some months earlier. I also remembered searching the base for missing teenager on several occasions before this last incident when he surrendered. We found cars parked in remote areas and did line searches in the woods but never found anything. I remembered getting an APB about a run-away couple where the car was found parked on post and the boy was the son of a sergeant major with hundreds of dollars in the bank and they disappeared without a trace with the money still in the bank.I transferred from being desk sergeant to the game warden section in order to take some extra training. This time it was also an APB and I was on my way home for the weekend(on Friday) the alert came out Friday morning and at about 1545 hours we were notified that they found the bodies of the run-aways. My supervisor and I had to show CID how to get to the remote location where these bodies were found, there was about 7” of snow on the ground so we took the first Jeep available. When we arrived on the scene we found out that the suspect was Thornton and the surviving victim had gotten the bumper number off the Jeep he was driving and it was the one we were operating. A close examination revealed bullet holes in the back seat. I had already turned in my weapon at the arms room anticipating an early start for the weekend. They took the scout as evidence and gave me one ofCID sedans so I could guard the crime scene. Thornton was still at large until he gave himself up later that night and they thought he may return to the scene. I was pretty nervous. In the scramble to get Thornton, they forgot to bring me a weapon

[p***@yahoo.com]

On Friday, September 21, 2018 at 3:20:17 PM UTC-5, ***@gmail.com wrote:

Sir, you mentioned "This time it was also an APB and I was on my way home for the weekend(on Friday) the alert came out Friday morning and at about 1545 hours we were notified that they found the bodies of the run-aways. My supervisor and I had to show CID how to get to the remote location where these bodies were found, there was about 7” of snow on the ground so we took the first Jeep available. When we arrived on the scene we found out that the suspect was Thornton and the surviving victim had gotten the bumper number off the Jeep he was driving and it was the one we were operating. A close examination revealed bullet holes in the back seat."

How is it possible that Thornton shot two people with a 45 (I think the later 'Bates' civil case said the type of weapon) in the chest, drove them to the cabin, performed the atrocious acts in the cabin, and then buried all four in the snow drift, and yet there were only two bullet holes without any major blood or body tissues all over the jeep? I remember another source (I would have to re-find it to quote it) stated that he said that he shot some wild dogs or something to explain away the blood but dogs shot outside of the vehicle vs. humans shot and kept inside of the vehicle for a fairly long duration of time would have two very different results. So does this mean he washed out the jeep to get rid of an enormous amount of evidence and the receiving still saw a lot of blood and a wet jeep but not enough blood for you and the other passenger to notice until you saw the bullet holes? There are just some really weird things about this case I can't place in a logical timeline. (And it could be that I'm just not thinking this through considering all of the facts.)


Thank you!

[j***@gmail.com]

To: ***@gmail.com

This is Jim Reist "SARGE",SSG, US Army, Law Enforcement Cmd, Retired.

I was a SP4 assigned to the 463rd MP Co (Escort Guard)at the time of this incident, and I also worked in the Game Warden Section with "Dick" SFC Richard Jensen, and Johnny Lee Thornton.

We worked together, as Game Wardens, on many operations from 1975 until 1977.

I was tasked to work with CID on gathering evidence at various locations on post.

I was one of the On-Duty Game Wardens that day, and I also transported the DPM and CID out to the Game Warden Shack / Crime Scene, just before dark.

There is a friend (JB KING), who was the first Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer to make contact with Miss. Deckard. He is working key personnel, involved in this case, along with former CID and FBI Agents that were directly involved.

JB is also the former Pulaski County Sheriff, and he is putting together a "Factual" book on the events surrounding this case.

I have been talking with JB, and he would like very much, for you to please contact him at the following Email: ***@gmail.com

Be well and stay safe
Jim

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by t***@gmail.com
I was stationed at ft Leonard Wood in the MPs when this happened. I helped train Thornton as a road MP because his specialty was 95c (stockade mp). He appeared normal in every way. I was his supervisor for a while and even co-signed for a small loan from the CU so he could get his truck repaired. He payed off the loan before he was apprehended. Don’t know what triggered these killings. I know his wife had left him some months earlier. I also remembered searching the base for missing teenager on several occasions before this last incident when he surrendered. We found cars parked in remote areas and did line searches in the woods but never found anything. I remembered getting an APB about a run-away couple where the car was found parked on post and the boy was the son of a sergeant major with hundreds of dollars in the bank and they disappeared without a trace with the money still in the bank.I transferred from being desk sergeant to the game warden section in order to take some extra training. This time it was also an APB and I was on my way home for the weekend(on Friday) the alert came out Friday morning and at about 1545 hours we were notified that they found the bodies of the run-aways. My supervisor and I had to show CID how to get to the remote location where these bodies were found, there was about 7” of snow on the ground so we took the first Jeep available. When we arrived on the scene we found out that the suspect was Thornton and the surviving victim had gotten the bumper number off the Jeep he was driving and it was the one we were operating. A close examination revealed bullet holes in the back seat. I had already turned in my weapon at the arms room anticipating an early start for the weekend. They took the scout as evidence and gave me one ofCID sedans so I could guard the crime scene. Thornton was still at large until he gave himself up later that night and they thought he may return to the scene. I was pretty nervous. In the scramble to get Thornton, they forgot to bring me a weapon

I would love to talk to you in person. All I could get from the record was your last name. You were with SFC Dick Jensen at the time you drove to the body site. If my e-mail address does not show on here the Pulaski County Sheriff's office will forward your contact info. They are at 573-774-6196. Retired Sheriff J. B. King at ***@gmai.com

[l***@gmail.com]

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

This incident provoked great fear in the communities surrounding the base as many teenagers as well as adults held jobs on base. My 2 brothers worked at the base after school. They would be coming home late out the back gate to the Roby/Plato area. After passing the airport there was "nothing" until you left the installation. In the town meeting held in Roby at Chub Johnson sale barn, the top brass actually had the nerve to tell the citizens of the community they had "nothing" to fear if they didn't break the law. My mother, who was standing beside Doug Hawkins, Wesley Hawkins older brother, spoke up and said she would tell her boys "not" to stop for an MP until they reached a civilian house. You are correct in the fact that other teens went missing. There were more than just T.C. and Al who disappeared around this time. Their pictures were posted in Wal-Mart and other stores in Waynesville and St. Roberts. No one ever found the kids but their vehicles turned up in odd places. Some were considered runaways. What teen is going to run away and leave their car? As for his daughter, it is what it is. There is no way you can defend his actions and she truly can not deny that there probably were others. Ft. Wood encompasses about 70,000 acres, I think. Plenty of room to bury your dirty deeds. I am quite sure Wesley and Tony thought they had nothing to fear since Wesley's brother worked at Southgate Texaco. If he came up with that story for those 4 teens, what did he tell the rest? Having problems in his home life doesn't make someone go out on duty and kill 3 people and attempt to kill a 4th in one night. Not to mention the other atrocities he committed that night. A nice guy? Everyone said Ted Bundy was very personable too. Ted was considered very charismatic. His daughter would like for everyone to get the facts straight. Here are some facts: cold blooded murder, rape, sodomy and kidnapping. Lies to explain the blood in the jeep. Pain dished out to mothers, fathers, families and friends. Scars, pain and hurt that will never be erased from the lives of innocent people who just happened to know and love Wesley Hawkins, Tony Bates and Linda Needham. The terrible life he left for Juanita to live and re-live for the rest of her days. Thank God Juanita outsmarted him and walked six miles in sub-zero weather with snow on the ground to put an end to Johnny Lee Thornton and his rampage. The MP's shouldn't feel disgraced. Johnny Lee Thornton disgraced the MP's. I hope his daughter seeks professional help because she seems almost proud of what he did. She is to be pitied because she herself is another victim of a very evil, sick man.

[h***@gmail.com]

I don't need help I am just fine. Never in anything I said or ever would say is defending anything that happened that horrible night. Maybe you need a reading and comprehension lesson. If you in all your knowledge of the case know the facts then you know that my parents did not even live in the state when those other kids went missing. How dare you question anything about me because of my biology, shame on you. I have nothing but respect and complete sympathy for the victims of that day and their families who I am sure until this day feel the extreme loss of their loved ones!!! I do also feel for my mother who was destroyed during the aftermath of these astrosaties and left to raise three children on her own. John was never charged in any other case so unless you have new evidence or proof all that is being said is fabrication and conjecture. The military keeps pretty great records of where enlisted soldiers live and when and as much as you would like what you are saying to be true it is not... That is why I say state facts. Have a nice day.

[t***@yahoo.com]

I was with the 5th Engineer Battalion at the time this happened. Not sure of exact year but I was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood from 74-75.

[w***@gmail.com]

Here are some fact about the other two individuals that went missing. It was verified that Thornton was on duty the evening they went missing. It was also verified that he turned in empty casing the night they went missing. The reason for the spent shell casing were due to shooting stray dogs

[m***@googlemail.com]

Heather how are you his daughter? He only had two sons and he is in the USDB at Leavenworth...?

[r***@gmail.com]

Post by m***@googlemail.com
Heather how are you his daughter? He only had two sons and he is in the USDB at Leavenworth...?

Having done some research on this case, I have seen "Heather" post on blogs before and I believe she is his daughter. Her Mother was pregnant with her at the time but not yet born. Johnny Lee Thornton is not in Leavenworth either...his in Victorville USP with a projected release date of 2080. The date btw of the event was 12 JAN 1977.

[h***@gmail.com]

Ty yes my mom was pregnant with me when my father (John Thornton) went to prison! I don't check on here often but it always upsets me when people try to add more to the already horrible facts or try to call me a liar! And he was at Victorville but is not there any longer, he is in an Arizona prison!!

[d***@yahoo.com]

Post by h***@gmail.com
Ty yes my mom was pregnant with me when my father (John Thornton) went to prison! I don't check on here often but it always upsets me when people try to add more to the already horrible facts or try to call me a liar! And he was at Victorville but is not there any longer, he is in an Arizona prison!!

Heather, There is so very much misinformation on the internet. The truth is I was John's immediate supervisor in the Game Warden Section at FLW PMO. I testified for the defense and the prosecution both at his trial in Council Bluff, Iowa. John was also my best friend at the time. I also participated in both of the investigations. The young couple that disappeared prior to the later murders was called the case of the Colonel's daughter and the Staff Sergeant's son. I was there and I know what took place. John found the young man's car after dark. It was cold and snowing when John called me on the radio to check out this 1962 Chevy Impala that John had found parked and empty in the woods behind the Post Veterinary Clinic. Upon my arrival at the scene I noticed the only tracks in the snow around the vehicle were John's. Once we found the registration and ascertained the owner's name and address we impounded the vehicle and went to his father's quarters on post where we were told by the father there was something horribly wrong as that car was his Son's pride and joy and he would never abandon it. That is when we were informed the young lady was with him on a date earlier that evening. So we checked at the young lady's home address on post. She lived in Officers Housing. Her father was a Colonel in the Army. He was sure there was something wrong because both the teenagers were very responsible young adults, good students and would never run away. The young man had almost two thousand dollars in a checking account that he had earned and other than a few dollars withdrawn the previous day for the date all the money was accounted for. The consensus at the time was the young couple had met with foul play. There was no evidence of a struggle at or in the car. However with all the statements from family and friends it was clear they had not run away together. I loved your father like a brother and he destroyed me. He betrayed me. He ended my military career. Damned near killed me with guilt over the crimes that he committed that maybe I could have prevented if I had been a better cop, a better supervisor, a better friend. Several years after the kids disappeared I had a chance encounter with the Colonel. We talked (I was no longer in the Army). He looked like he had aged twenty years. He said the very least they wanted was to be able to give their daughter a decent burial and maybe find some peace. It was so very sad. I promised him that I would continue to try and solve the mystery of their disappearance. I even had an Idea of where their bodies might be. I went to the Army. They were not interested in digging up old events that would give the post another black eye. I went to the FBI and they did not express any interest in renewing the investigation. A friend that is an FBI agent told me unofficially the FBI was pressured by the Army to drop the issue. I moved on and moved to another state (trying to outrun my demons) from my past. Once upon a time I considered Johnny Lee Thornton to be a great cop and a great friend. Then the murders and the nightmare began.

[[e-mail]]

. . . Several years after the kids disappeared I had a chance encounter with the Colonel. We talked (I was no longer in the Army). He looked like he had aged twenty years. He said the very least they wanted was to be able to give their daughter a decent burial and maybe find some peace. It was so very sad. I promised him that I would continue to try and solve the mystery of their disappearance. I even had an Idea of where their bodies might be. I went to the Army. They were not interested in digging up old events that would give the post another black eye. I went to the FBI and they did not express any interest in renewing the investigation. A friend that is an FBI agent told me unofficially the FBI was pressured by the Army to drop the issue. I moved on and moved to another state (trying to outrun my demons) from my past. Once upon a time I considered Johnny Lee Thornton to be a great cop and a great friend. Then the murders and the nightmare began.

I have often thought of TC over the years and wondered what happened, and if they had ever been found. I think we all knew they weren't coming back. We were in the same class and she road my bus. She played guitar and had a lovely voice. I didn't know Al he wasn't in any of my classes. I had forgotten that Julie and her boyfriend were supposed to have been on a double-date with them. Julie I do hope you have been able to move on a bit and forgive yourself. I can now remember you crying on the bus saying that if you hadn't had an argument, and if you and your date had just been with them, it would have been different. I think it was after you all had been questioned. I think it would just have been an early version of the Plato kids. I remember it was a very surreal school year. dbwc… if you have an ideas, forget the top of the chain, try going to the lowest level; see if you can find a couple of MPs or junior investigators who would be willing to take on a cold case on their own time. If the FBI and official Army investigators aren't involved no one can take a "political" stance. If it pans out let them take the glory, this is for TC and Al and their families. THE MP MURDERS OF 1977 by Luge Hardman is an article on-line, she wrote in 2011, she still lives in Waynesville I believe, and combined with your information and your suspicions on where to look, something might happen. They could easily be "hiking/exploring" their AOR while investigating. If they found anything it would naturally/innocently have to be reported as required by law. They can always admit later that they were deliberately looking into the case. Both of my parents are deceased and my Dad was probably about as old as TC's and perhaps Al's as well. I know Al was an only child, soon the only ones left to remember them will be those who went to school with them, and perhaps the only others who might care are those who investigated.

[p***@yahoo.com]

First time posting...

Pvt Frederick E Williams went missing from Fort Leonard Wood in January, 1977. After missing two pay periodshe was listed as AWOL. His remains were found in April, 1977 by a hunter somewhere in the backwoods of Fort Leavenworth (near the Ozarks??). His skull showed evidence of blunt trauma and was being treated as a homicide. He was a neighborhood friend of my best friend in Kansas City. His family was interviewed for JET magazine in 1977 and Johnny Thorton was not mentioned. In fact I cannot find any other search result except for his grave stone at Leavenworth. In other words, as mentioned above, the Army did what they do best and that is anything that makes a problem go away. If Private Fred Williams was a murder victim of Johnny Thornton, even if never resolved, the soldier deserves the official inquiry at least.

[j***@gmail.com]

This is Jim Reist, they called me "STAFF" or "SARGE",SSG, US Army, Law Enforcement Cmd, Retired.

I was a SP4 assigned to the 463rd MP Co (Escort Guard)between 1975 and 1977.

I worked in the Game Warden Section with "Dick" SFC Richard Jensen, and Johnny Lee Thornton. Johnny and I worked together as Game Wardens, on a variety of operations ranging from Poachers, Road Blocks, Checking Permits, Cattle Issues, Herd Population Surveys, Fish Restocking, Hunting and Animal Complaints, and Intoxicated Hunters.

On January 13, 1977, I was one of the On-Duty Game Wardens, and I was tasked to work with CID on gathering evidence at various locations on post. Later that day, I transported the Deputy Provost Marshall (DPM) and CID out to the Game Warden Shack / Crime Scene, where I became involved in the Recovery Operation, as the daylight faded.

There is a friend (JB KING), who was the first Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer to make contact with Miss. Deckard. He is working key personnel, involved in this case, along with former CID and FBI Agents that were directly involved.

JB is also the former Pulaski County Sheriff, and he is putting together a "Factual" book on the events surrounding this case.

I have been talking with JB, and he would like very much, for you to please contact him at the following Email: ***@gmail.com

You can also contact me, if you would please.
***@gmail.com


Be well and stay safe

Jim

Post by d***@yahoo.com

Post by h***@gmail.com
Ty yes my mom was pregnant with me when my father (John Thornton) went to prison! I don't check on here often but it always upsets me when people try to add more to the already horrible facts or try to call me a liar! And he was at Victorville but is not there any longer, he is in an Arizona prison!!

Heather, There is so very much misinformation on the internet. The truth is I was John's immediate supervisor in the Game Warden Section at FLW PMO. I testified for the defense and the prosecution both at his trial in Council Bluff, Iowa. John was also my best friend at the time. I also participated in both of the investigations. The young couple that disappeared prior to the later murders was called the case of the Colonel's daughter and the Staff Sergeant's son. I was there and I know what took place. John found the young man's car after dark. It was cold and snowing when John called me on the radio to check out this 1962 Chevy Impala that John had found parked and empty in the woods behind the Post Veterinary Clinic. Upon my arrival at the scene I noticed the only tracks in the snow around the vehicle were John's. Once we found the registration and ascertained the owner's name and address we impounded the vehicle and went to his father's quarters on post where we were told by the father there was something horribly wrong as that car was his Son's pride and joy and he would never abandon it. That is when we were informed the young lady was with him on a date earlier that evening. So we checked at the young lady's home address on post. She lived in Officers Housing. Her father was a Colonel in the Army. He was sure there was something wrong because both the teenagers were very responsible young adults, good students and would never run away. The young man had almost two thousand dollars in a checking account that he had earned and other than a few dollars withdrawn the previous day for the date all the money was accounted for. The consensus at the time was the young couple had met with foul play. There was no evidence of a struggle at or in the car. However with all the statements from family and friends it was clear they had not run away together. I loved your father like a brother and he destroyed me. He betrayed me. He ended my military career. Damned near killed me with guilt over the crimes that he committed that maybe I could have prevented if I had been a better cop, a better supervisor, a better friend. Several years after the kids disappeared I had a chance encounter with the Colonel. We talked (I was no longer in the Army). He looked like he had aged twenty years. He said the very least they wanted was to be able to give their daughter a decent burial and maybe find some peace. It was so very sad. I promised him that I would continue to try and solve the mystery of their disappearance. I even had an Idea of where their bodies might be. I went to the Army. They were not interested in digging up old events that would give the post another black eye. I went to the FBI and they did not express any interest in renewing the investigation. A friend that is an FBI agent told me unofficially the FBI was pressured by the Army to drop the issue. I moved on and moved to another state (trying to outrun my demons) from my past. Once upon a time I considered Johnny Lee Thornton to be a great cop and a great friend. Then the murders and the nightmare began.

[h***@gmail.com]

My mom Patti was pregnant with me when he was arrested. And yes I have 2 older brothers !! But ty for thinking you know everything like everyone else does!!! He hasn't been at Leavenworth for years, he was at Victorville in California, where I happen to go to his last parole hearing and met one of the victims family who were absolutely gracious and lovely towards me!! Now he is at a federal prison in Arizona!! Get your facts straight!!

[n***@gmail.com]

I was living on fort Leonard wood during Johnny Lee Thornton's killing spree. My husband at the time was an mp, after the murders, MPs were required to ride with the game wardens in their vehicles. At the time, I did not hear of any other people who were missing, or bodies found. The base is in the middle of nowhere, nearest grocery store at the time was 80 miles away, a dumpy, depressing walmart was the only place to shop for household goods, the PX wasn't all that. There was also some weirdo, turned out to be a teen living on base, who was breaking into houses on base and defecating on their dining room tables. There was no radio stations, accept out of the college in Rolla, they played rock for a few hours a day. Two TV stations. The old quarters I was living in, Lieber Hts, Pulaski blvd, collapsed on me during a horrific rainstorm. I escaped with minor injuries. I can understand how somebody can lose it, we used to call it Ft Lost in the Woods. Absolutely nothing to do there, zip.

[p***@gmail.com]

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

I served as a fellow MP and in MPI with Johnny Thornton during the time of these incidents and he used my car to escape after this incident. I also had to testify at his trial. Is he still alive and in Leavenworth?

[f***@yahoo.com]

Post by p***@gmail.com

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

I served as a fellow MP and in MPI with Johnny Thornton during the time of these incidents and he used my car to escape after this incident. I also had to testify at his trial. Is he still alive and in Leavenworth?

[h***@gmail.com]

Post by p***@gmail.com

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

I served as a fellow MP and in MPI with Johnny Thornton during the time of these incidents and he used my car to escape after this incident. I also had to testify at his trial. Is he still alive and in Leavenworth?

I spoke with him yesterday, he is alive but is now at a Federal prison in Arizona!

[j***@gmail.com]

Hello Heather,

You do not know me, because you were not born yet when I worked with your daddy Johnny. We arrived at Fort Leonard Wood at the same time, were assigned to the same unit, and worked together as Game Wardens on quite a few projects or dutie assignments, from September of 1975 to 1977.

I have tried to stay quiet and neutral about the events that happened back in the 1970’s, however…there are so many “Wrong Stories” out there, and most of them are incorrect and very much exaggerated.

I have since retired from the Army, and Law Enforcement, but…I still maintain contact with a very few, select individuals who are what I consider to be Very Good People.

I have been talking with some of these folks about what actually happened, and one of these people just happens to be another person that was directly involved in this case, as was I. JB KING was the first Missouri State Trooper / Law Enforcement Officer to help Juanita. He too just wants everyone to know “JUST THE FACTS”, and not all of these rumors and allegations that still seem to still be floating around. "Let's Put All Of This GOSIP To Rest".

I know that I feel uncomfortable bringing this subject up to someone that I have never met, but…do you think that you could possibly provide me or JB with a few (Photos, Documents, Family Stories on how everyone is doing now, or anything else that you would feel comfortable on sharing with us), so that JB could add these things and details into his book. I would like for people to know that Johnny had a Life, Friends and a Family that he Loved and Cherished, before his tragic Mental Break?

I remember that one time, there was a rather large creek that we had to drive through, they called these areas “FORDS”, and half way across the creek, the water got real deep, and stalled-out the engine of our vehicle. We used the starter to “Bump/Move” the Jeep out of the water, and then we took off our wet clothing and placed them onto the hood to dry. After an hour, we got everything back together, cleaned the cylinders out and got the Jeep running again, so that we could continue our patrol. There are other stories that I could share, some funny and some not so funny.

Anyway…I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you could provide to myself or to JB !

Respectfully Always,

Jim

[j***@gmail.com]

On Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 11:13:28 PM UTC-5, ***@gmail.com wrote:
Hello Heather,

You do not know me, because you were not born yet when I worked with your daddy Johnny. We arrived at Fort Leonard Wood at the same time, were assigned to the same unit, and worked together as Game Wardens on quite a few projects or dutie assignments, from September of 1975 to 1977.

I have tried to stay quiet and neutral about the events that happened back in the 1970’s, however…there are so many “Wrong Stories” out there, and most of them are incorrect and very much exaggerated.

I have since retired from the Army, and Law Enforcement, but…I still maintain contact with a very few, select individuals who are what I consider to be Very Good People.

I have been talking with some of these folks about what actually happened, and one of these people just happens to be another person that was directly involved in this case, as was I. JB KING was the first Missouri State Trooper / Law Enforcement Officer to help Juanita. He too just wants everyone to know “JUST THE FACTS”, and not all of these rumors and allegations that still seem to still be floating around. "Let's Put All Of This GOSIP To Rest".

I know that I feel uncomfortable bringing this subject up to someone that I have never met, but…do you think that you could possibly provide me or JB with a few (Photos, Documents, Family Stories on how everyone is doing now, or anything else that you would feel comfortable on sharing with us), so that JB could add these things and details into his book. I would like for people to know that Johnny had a Life, Friends and a Family that he Loved and Cherished, before his tragic Mental Break?

I remember that one time, there was a rather large creek that we had to drive through, they called these areas “FORDS”, and half way across the creek, the water got real deep, and stalled-out the engine of our vehicle. We used the starter to “Bump/Move” the Jeep out of the water, and then we took off our wet clothing and placed them onto the hood to dry. After an hour, we got everything back together, cleaned the cylinders out and got the Jeep running again, so that we could continue our patrol. There are other stories that I could share, some funny and some not so funny.

Anyway…I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you could provide to myself or to JB !

Here is our contact emails:

JB's - ***@gmail.com

Mine - ***@gmail.com

Respectfully Always,

Jim

[z***@gmail.com]

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

The U.S.Army and the Military Police have low standards and cover up any thing that make them look bad. When I got to my first duty station Mainz , Germany with the 3 / 527 M.P. Company ( 1988 ). My team leader Sgt Robert Pierce and Squad SSG Chuck Moore both had joined the Army as a opt. to prison. Both were convicted for being a drug dealer . The Desk SGT. ( SGT. Steven Bellou) instructed me to charge a person based on rank . When two people were involved in a fight ect. Charge toe lowest ranking one . If a military personel were involved . Charge the Mil. personel and not the civilian . SGT S. Bellou was assaulted by his wife and never charged. She wan getting out on a chp. # 9 .She was pregnat by SFC. Chris Carieonis . Neither were charged , and everyone new. The provost Marshal Cpt. Diane Brown was relieved on duty by the Comm. Commander Bgir. Gen. John Landry . Her replacement was Maj. Brown he was relieved of as well. The Acting PMO was a civilian Mr D.Hanah . The Col . (Reed) used the RIFT( Reduction in Forces ) program to kick out people he did not like . Suck as 1LT Lockhart. Later the program was in the hands of the DOD .We were instructed who to charge in a inv. by the Desk SGT. Not based on the investigation its self .

[j***@gmail.com]

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

[l***@gmail.com]

Heather do you have a picture my friend could use in his book about the murders he is writing?

The MP Corps Serial Murderer?
During the mid-70's and early 80's the Johnny Lee Thornton murder case was a
required part of the course curriculum for any MP attending either NCO or
Officer Development courses at McClellan. This included video taped reviews of
the remains and the autopsies. Thornton was an E-4 Game Warden in the Fort
Leonardwood MP Company during 76-77 time frame. It was proven that he
murdered at least three people and possibly more on Fort Leonardwood in the
secluded Range and hunting areas on the installation. It is a long, drawn out
and very bizarre story which I won't attempt to repeat here....but basically he
was pulling people over while on duty in his marked MP Scout vehicle,
apprehending them, placing them in handirons and driving them to secluded areas
on Leonardwood and killing them.....he always raped the female victims first.
He would shoot them point blank with his issued .45 automatic pistol and turn
the casing into the arms room at the end of his tour of duty and tell the
armorer he shot some rabid (Foxes). The only reason he got caught on the proven
incident was because one of the females feigned death and crawled six miles in
the dead of winter to a farm house for help...thereby being an eyewitness to
the other murders (Two males and one female murdered, the survivor feigned
death - they were traveling all together in the same vehicle when Thornton
pulled them over - more on this case later.)
Years afterwards, anytime they found a skeleton in the secluded , wooded areas
on Leonardwood they automatically speculated that they were some of Thornton's
undiscovered victims. His PSG at the time of the murders was later a Drill
Sergeant at McClellan. The case study and the way it was presented was
absolutely eerie. (More in next post.) Johnny Lee Thornton tried to pull the
multiple personality behavior disorder as his defense for committing the
murders......it didn't work and he got a life sentence at Leavenworth. After
that, MP's at Leonardwood had absolutely no credibility on post or within the
civilian community.....many times when attempting traffic stops on post, people
would flee because they feared more Thorntons were on patrol. The MP Corps did
a pretty good job of squashing the bad publicity though; but it was required
study at the school house for a good number of years.
There you have it..... anyone else have additional info or comments?
Bill

[l***@gmail.com]

About that picture Heather could you send it to ***@yahoo.com.