Bio

Roger Eric Thorson was born on March 5, 1958. He grew up in a small town in Harrison County, Mississippi. Information about his childhood is limited, but it is known that he had a troubled relationship with his family.

As a young boy, Thorson faced difficulties in school. He struggled with learning and had several nervous problems. These challenges may have contributed to his feelings of being isolated or misunderstood. People who knew him described his early life as unpleasant. He often felt easily influenced by others.

Thorson had various jobs as he grew older. However, details about his work history are not widely known. He formed relationships during this time, including with a woman named Patricia Cook. They had a romantic relationship, which would later complicate his life.

Murder Story

On March 4, 1987, Roger Eric Thorson approached his ex-girlfriend, Gloria McKinney, at the Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, Mississippi. He had wanted to apologize to her in person. After learning that she would not finish work until later, Thorson waited for her to leave. When she finally exited the mall around 4:45 PM, he approached her car and asked for a ride to the Cedar Lake exit. When they reached the exit, Thorson asked her to drive further to his home because he still wanted to talk.

During the drive, Thorson suddenly pulled out a knife and threatened McKinney. He directed her to a dirt road, where he ordered her to remove her clothes. After she complied, Thorson tied her hands and gagged her with her own brassiere. He then assaulted her and, after the attack, he attempted to wipe down any surfaces he might have touched in her car to eliminate his fingerprints.

Thorson was worried that McKinney might tell others about the assault. He slashed her throat with a knife and, after she managed to get out of the car and cry for help, he shot her in the head with a .22 caliber revolver. After killing McKinney, Thorson returned home, cleaned himself and the knife with bleach, and disposed of evidence by burying it in a vacant lot near his home.

On March 8, 1987, Thorson was arrested after police found McKinney's body and other evidence linking him to the crime. He had originally denied seeing McKinney. However, authorities found inconsistencies in his various statements. Thorson eventually confessed to the murder during a police interview, stating, “Well, I guess you know the rest of the story.”

Thorson faced multiple trials for the murder of Gloria McKinney. Amid legal battles, he was found guilty in 2002 and sentenced to death. He appealed his conviction, leading to a lengthy legal process concerning various aspects of his case, including his mental health and the specifics of his trial and defense strategies. Despite these appeals, the courts upheld his guilty verdict and the death sentence.