Bio

Billy Thessing was born on September 11, 1968. He grew up in a difficult environment. Information about his early life is sparse, but it is known that he faced numerous challenges as a child. His family situation was not stable, and Thessing was eventually placed in multiple foster homes. Reports suggest he endured abuse while in the care of some of these foster families.

His early experiences likely shaped his future. He accumulated a record of criminal activity starting from a young age. By the time he reached adulthood, he had a history of felony convictions, which included assaults and other serious offenses. These criminal activities led to periods of incarceration, and he was known to struggle with substance abuse issues during his life.

Before his most notable crime, Thessing was released on parole from prison, where he had served time for previous offenses. He had left a significant mark on his community before being arrested for the murder of Mattie Basinger in February 2003, but details about his life prior to this event are limited.

Murder Story

On February 11, 2003, Billy Thessing entered the home of 67-year-old Mattie Basinger in Pulaski County, Arkansas, intending to rob her. He violently attacked her, beating her, cutting her throat, and kicking her in the head. After committing the murder, he stole various items, including Mattie's car, wheelchair, food, silverware, and Bible. Following the crime, he attempted to cover it up by contemplating setting her house on fire to make her death appear accidental.

Thessing was arrested six days later after he crashed the stolen vehicle. Police later found his fingerprints at the scene of the murder. A friend of Thessing's testified that he confessed to her about killing an elderly woman and even gave her some of the stolen items the same night.

His trial began, and he was convicted of capital murder on April 16, 2003. During the proceedings, Thessing asserted that he was innocent and claimed he was a victim of a satanic conspiracy. Despite his defense, he was sentenced to death on September 20, 2004.

Thessing's attempts to appeal the verdict were not successful, and the judge set a date for his execution.