Bio

Scott Harlan Thorpe was born on April 1, 1960, in Sacramento, California. He was the youngest of four children in his family. His father, Gerald, passed away in 1995, and his mother, Marilyn, is originally from Iowa. Scott also had two brothers and a sister.

As a child, Scott seemed to have a normal upbringing. However, as he grew older, he developed some issues, particularly with mental health. Around the age of 33, he began to struggle with mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia, a fear of being in public places. His mental health issues worsened, leading him to receive monthly counseling.

In the years leading up to his later life, Scott became increasingly reclusive. He had difficulty getting out of his house and even stopped shopping for groceries. Before this time, he was described as outgoing and enjoyed outdoor activities like camping and fishing. Scott worked as a night janitor for several schools from 1988 until 1992. He passed necessary background checks and did not have any reported issues during his employment.

Scott's life took a significant turn after he suffered a debilitating back injury, which led to receiving disability benefits. He lived on a property in Smartville, California, where he had a passion for caring for sick animals and wanted to raise chickens and goats.

He had a brother, Kent, who worked as a police officer in Sacramento. Scott's mental health struggles led to increased paranoia, and he became resistant to treatment. Despite his long-term struggles, those who knew him often described him as a gentle person who did not display violent tendencies.

Murder Story

On January 10, 2001, Scott Harlan Thorpe entered the outpatient mental health clinic in Nevada County, California, at around 11:30 a.m. He was a client at the clinic and had been receiving treatment for mental health issues. Inside, he opened fire with a handgun, shooting three people. The victims included 19-year-old Laura Wilcox, a temporary file clerk, and Pearlie Mae Feldman, a 68-year-old caregiver, who both died from their injuries. A third person inside the clinic was injured when she jumped out of a window to escape.

Thorpe then drove to a nearby Lyon's Restaurant, less than two miles away. There, he shot the restaurant manager, 24-year-old Mike Markle, fatally wounding him, and wounded a cook. Eyewitnesses reported that Thorpe believed the restaurant was poisoning him.

After the attacks, Thorpe returned to his home in Smartville, California. Later that evening, he surrendered to police after a tip from his brother, who was a police officer. Thorpe was arrested without incident at approximately 9 p.m. on the same day.

Following his arrest, Scott Thorpe was evaluated by mental health professionals. He was found to be incompetent to stand trial and was sent to Atascadero State Hospital. Eventually, he was transferred to Napa State Hospital as part of his ongoing mental health treatment. Thorpe's actions on that day resulted in three deaths and left two others injured.