Bio

Matthew Dwight Thompson was born on November 3, 1970, in Multnomah County, Oregon. He grew up in a neighborhood that, like many others, had its challenges. Information about his early life and family background is limited, but it is known that he had some conflicts in his life related to alcohol.

Thompson attended local schools and, like many adolescents, faced typical issues of growing up. As a young adult, he developed a pattern of behavior that included disputes fueled by alcohol. These conflicts would later play a significant role in his life.

By the time he was in his twenties, Thompson had made a series of choices that put him at odds with the law. His early experiences and challenges ultimately played a part in his eventual actions that led to his notoriety. On November 18, 1994, significant events occurred that led to his arrest and conviction, but his early life set the stage for those actions.

Murder Story

On November 18, 1994, Matthew Dwight Thompson entered the Driftwood Tavern in Portland, Oregon. He was accompanied by Paul Whitcher. Inside, they interacted with Debra Oyamada, who was sitting at a video poker machine, and her husband, Andrew McDonald, who was at the bar. Thompson asked Debra if she was from "the samurai family," which raised concern for her. After some time, the bartender asked Thompson and Whitcher to leave due to their behavior. As they exited, one of them reportedly stated, "I feel like killing somebody tonight."

Shortly after leaving the tavern, Thompson returned inside. He attacked Andrew McDonald, stabbing him multiple times. Debra and another patron, Bill Jones, attempted to intervene, but Thompson also attacked them. Andrew McDonald was critically injured and later died on his way to the hospital.

After the incident, Thompson fled to his grandmother's home. Around 1:30 a.m., a woman called 911 to report a man lying face down on the street. This man was later identified as Paul Whitcher, who had also been stabbed numerous times. Thompson was found nearby soon after, displaying signs of intoxication and having an injured eye.

Police arrested Thompson after discovering blood-stained clothes in his grandmother’s washing machine. A bloody knife, identified as belonging to Thompson, was also found in the basement. He was charged with multiple counts of murder and other related crimes.

On February 20, 1996, Thompson was sentenced to death for the murders of Andrew McDonald and Paul Whitcher. His case went through a lengthy legal process, ultimately affirming his conviction and sentence in the Oregon Supreme Court.