Bio

William L. Thompson was born on February 19, 1952. He grew up in Dade County, Florida. Information about his early life is not widely available. His family background, education, and childhood experiences remain largely unknown.

At some point, Thompson became involved with others who had negative influences. He formed a connection with a man named Rocco Surace. This relationship would later play a significant role in his life choices. The exact details of his early adulthood remain scarce, but it's known that he struggled to find stability.

The events that defined his life ultimately escalated in 1976, when Thompson was involved in a serious crime. However, the specifics of his early experiences before this incident are not well-documented.

Murder Story

William L. Thompson was involved in a tragic crime on March 30, 1976. He and Rocco Surace, along with two women, Sally Ivester and Barbara Savage, were staying in a motel room in Dade County, Florida. The group was in a difficult situation and needed money. Sally tried to call her family for help, but they could only send her $25 instead of the expected $200. This made Thompson and Surace very angry.

In a fit of rage, Surace forced Sally into a bedroom and began to hit her with a chain-link belt. Thompson joined in and they both physically abused her. They committed terrible acts against her and continued their violence when they took her to a phone booth to call her mother for more money. After the phone call, they brought Sally back to the motel room where the beating resumed.

Sadly, Sally could not survive the injuries inflicted during the attack. Witness Barbara Savage later testified that she feared for her own life during the entire ordeal. Two days later, on April 1, 1976, Thompson was arrested for his involvement in this crime.

Thompson was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty on June 15, 1976. The court sentenced him to death on June 24, 1976. However, this sentence was reversed by the Florida Supreme Court the following year, allowing him to withdraw his guilty plea and proceed to trial.

Thompson pled guilty again in 1978 and was sentenced to death once more on September 20. His case went through numerous appeals and resentencings over the years. In 1989, Thompson was resentenced to death again after a jury favored this punishment. Various courts continued to review his case, and despite several filings for appeals and claims regarding his trial, the courts upheld his death sentence.

Thompson's appeals continued into the 2000s, with different motions and court decisions affecting his case. As of now, legal processes regarding his sentence are still ongoing.