Bio

Arthur Thomas was born in 1925. He grew up in Texas before moving to Arizona. Not much is known about his childhood or family background. He later worked as a day laborer in the Kansas Settlement near Willcox, Arizona.

In March 1953, Thomas became involved in a serious criminal case. On March 17, his victim, Janie Miskovich, was found dead in Cochise County. Following the incident, Thomas was arrested by the local sheriff, Jack Howard.

After his arrest, a magistrate held a preliminary examination. Arthur Thomas waived this examination and was taken to custody. His bail was set at $25,000, but he could not pay it. This led to his continued detention.

In June 1953, he was tried for murder in the Superior Court of Arizona. He pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty by the jury. The trial lasted for a few weeks, from June 1 to June 19, when the jury returned a verdict against him.

Following his conviction, the court sentenced Arthur Thomas to death. His appeals were unsuccessful, and he was executed by asphyxiation-gas on November 17, 1958. Throughout these events, his early life remained largely undocumented, with most information focused on his later actions and the legal proceedings that followed.

Murder Story

On March 17, 1953, Arthur Thomas murdered Janie Miskovich in Cochise County, Arizona. This act was classified as first-degree murder, committed during the commission of a robbery. After the crime, Janie's body was discovered, leading to an investigation. The sheriff of Cochise County, Jack Howard, arrested Arthur Thomas the same day.

Following his arrest, Thomas was taken before a magistrate, where he waived his rights to a preliminary hearing. He was charged with murder and held on bail set at $25,000. However, he could not post bail and was placed in the custody of the sheriff.

The trial for Arthur Thomas began on June 1, 1953, and concluded on June 19, 1953. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death. Thomas moved for a new trial, but the request was denied.

After the sentencing, Arthur Thomas's case went through several appeals. The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's judgment on October 18, 1954. Thomas continued to appeal, but these appeals were also denied. Subsequently, he sought a writ of habeas corpus in federal court, but the court did not grant his request.

Arthur Thomas was executed by asphyxiation-gas in Arizona on November 17, 1958.