Bio

Thomas Dean Stevens was born in 1957. Little is known about his early life, but he grew up in a small town in Georgia. Stevens spent some time in school and later enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, a military base located in Wayne County, Georgia.

During his time in the Army, Stevens developed friendships with fellow servicemen. One of his close friends was Christopher A. Burger. The two often spent time together, including socializing at local establishments.

Stevens's life took a dramatic turn one night in September 1977. He and Burger were at the enlisted men’s club on the base when they decided to call a taxi. They intended to go somewhere but ultimately made a different plan. Instead of taking a regular cab ride, they discussed robbing a cab driver.

By 1977, Stevens was living a life that included military duties, social activities, and a growing circle of friends. These connections would later play a role in significant events that changed the course of his life forever.

Murder Story

On September 4, 1977, Thomas Dean Stevens and his friend Christopher A. Burger were drinking at the enlisted men's club at Fort Stewart, Georgia. After running out of money, they decided to rob a taxi driver. They first called a different cab company but changed their minds when the driver showed up with a friend. Instead, they ordered a cab from D & M and waited for the driver.

When the taxi driver, Roger E. Honeycutt, arrived alone, Stevens and Burger threatened him with a knife and a knife sharpener. They forced Honeycutt to pull over and demanded money, which he reluctantly gave them—less than twenty dollars. They then stripped him of his clothes and forced him to perform sexual acts. Once they were done, they bound him with a cord and locked him in the trunk of the car.

After confining Honeycutt, Stevens and Burger picked up their squad leader, James Botsford, from the airport. They revealed to Botsford that they had stolen the cab and mentioned that they had tied up the driver in the trunk. During the ride, they occasionally called out to Honeycutt, who responded from the trunk. Botsford tried to persuade them not to kill him, believing they had agreed to let him go.

Once Botsford was dropped off, Stevens and Burger drove to a nearby mini-mart before heading to a pond. They removed the CB radio from the cab and wiped down the interior to eliminate fingerprints. Finally, they drove the cab into the pond, causing it to sink with Honeycutt still in the trunk.

The next day, Stevens and Burger acted as if nothing was wrong. They even asked Botsford about the police search for Honeycutt, claiming they had released him. Days later, after Honeycutt was reported missing, Botsford went to the authorities with what he knew. Following his confession, Stevens eventually admitted to his role in the crime as well.

After a thorough investigation, the police recovered the car from the pond, along with evidence linking Stevens and Burger to the murder. Thomas Dean Stevens was convicted and sentenced to death. He was executed in Georgia on June 29, 1993.