Thomas Dale Ferguson was born on July 20, 1973, in Alabama, United States. 

On July 20, 1997, Harold Alan Pugh and his son, Joey Alan Pugh, were fishing in Cane Creek, Alabama. At that time, a group of five men had a plan to commit a bank robbery. They wanted to steal a vehicle to use as a getaway car. When they spotted the Pughs' truck, they decided to attack.

Michael Craig Maxwell held Harold and Joey at gunpoint. He forced them back into their fishing boat. Ferguson joined them later as they headed down the creek. Once they were out in the water, both Maxwell and Ferguson shot the father and son. Joey was shot first by Maxwell, and Ferguson shot Harold. After shooting Harold, Maxwell shot him again, assuming he was still alive.

After the murders, Ferguson and Maxwell returned to meet their accomplices and took off in the Pughs' truck. The following day, on July 21, 1997, they carried out the planned bank robbery, and later, they abandoned the truck and set it on fire.

The Pughs were reported missing, and local friends started searching in Cane Creek. The authorities joined in later. Eventually, their bodies were found floating in the creek. An autopsy showed they had both been shot twice in the head. Their boat was discovered days later, with evidence that linked the crime to the group.

On August 21, 1997, the five men involved were arrested. Ferguson and Maxwell were charged with capital murder. They faced serious consequences, as capital murder in Alabama can lead to the death penalty. The other three men were charged with lesser crimes.

Ferguson and Maxwell's trials began in 1998. In both trials, they were found guilty. Ferguson’s trial drew attention because the jury recommended a life sentence, but the judge decided on the death penalty instead. This decision caused controversy and discussions about the judicial system's fairness.

Maxwell and Ferguson remain on death row at Holman Correctional Facility as of 2025. The other accomplices received different sentences, with some serving life in prison and one getting parole after serving a 15-year sentence.