Andre Thomas

Investigative Writer: Kimberly Jones

Should some be executed despite being severely mental? Or is being executed a well deserved punishment in the eyes of the law? That has been the controversy regarding the Andre Thomas case. On March 27, 2004 in Grayson County Texas, Thomas broke into his estranged wife's house, 20 year old Laura Thomas, who at the time was home with their 4-year-old son, Andre Lee and Laura's 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes. During this time Laura had moved on from Andre and was now with her new boyfriend Bryant Hughes who is the father of Leyha. Once inside, Thomas stabbed his estranged wife and the two children to death using a variety of knives so that he would not "cross contaminate" their blood. This would "allow the demons inside of them to live". Thomas then begin to cut portions of Laura's lung( he thought was her heart) and also cut the hearts of the two children. Pathologist Shelia Spotswood stated that Laura had suffered a large V-shaped stab wound to her chest as well as many other stab wounds. Spotswood said Laura suffered from internal stab wounds as well that were delivered with such force that they went through her ribs. The children also suffered similar wounds and in addition, all their ribs had been cut open. Spotswood also stated their death would have to require" more than one stabbing motion". This would mean the victim had been alive long enough to know exactly what was going on and they would have suffered an excruciating death. Near the bodies Thomas left a one dollar bill which had been folded lengthwise, exposing the pyramid with the eye in the middle. It was also stated that Thomas had been obsessing over the meaning of the pyramid on the dollar bill that he believed the eye was evil. After the killings, Thomas laid down beside his decrease estranged wife, and then stabbed himself in the chest. Thomas did not die as he thought he would but then collected the organs, stuffed them in his pocket and walked back home. After arriving home, Thomas put the three knives in the sink and changed his bloody clothing leaving them in a pile on the floor. He then called his estranged wife's parents and left this message: "Um Sherry, this is Andre. I need y'alls help, something bad is happening to me and it keeps happening and I don't know what's going on. I need some help, I think I'm in hell. I need help. Somebody needs to come and help me. I need help bad. I'm desperate. I'm afraid to go to sleep. So when you get this message, come by the house please. Hello?" Thomas told his girlfriend, Carmen Hayes and his cousin, Isaiah Gibbs what he had done and Hayes asked why? Thomas explained that he believed Laura was Jezebel and that his son was the Antichrist. Leyha was the embodiment of pure evil. Thomas' girlfriend stated that he believed he was the devil and also believed he could stop himself from talking for 24 hours than God would forgive him to which he often would placed duct tape over his mouth. Several days before the murders, Thomas had attempted suicide several times including two days before he broke into Laura's home. Thomas stabbed himself then walked into the ER and told the doctor he was trying to "cross over into heaven ". He was then referred to the mental health unit and an emergency detention order was placed on him to hold him against his will. While staff waited for the judge to sign the order, Thomas walked right out the building, and the next time he was seen was two days later after he slaughtered his family. After confessing to his girlfriend, Thomas turned himself in. Days later, Thomas plucked out his eyeball with his bare hands while in jail and then quoted Mark 9:47: "And if it causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better if you enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell". He was taken to the hospital where they attempted to reattach his eye but was unsuccessful with doing so. During his trial, his defense team, R.J. Hagood and Bobby Peterson asked the jury to take into consideration Thomas' self-mutilation and argued he was insane. They also argued that Thomas' family knew he was mentally ill from age 10 and also had several attempts of suicide then as well. Thomas' mother was nowhere to be seen through his life and lived a transient life to which she offered no support to her children. She eventually would move away leaving Thomas in the care of the justice system. During Hagwood's closing statement at the trial, he asked the jury to considered Thomas' mental illness and that Andre's life is worth saving. Peterson stated that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst and that Thomas should be placed somewhere to finally get the psychological help he needs. Unfortunately, the jury took 45 minutes to decide Andre Thomas must pay with his life and sentenced him to death. Thomas was sent to the Polunsky Unit for Texas Death Row inmates. Over the next few years Thomas continued with suicide attempts and in July 2008 slashed his throat with a razor to which he needed stitches. Three months later, he gouged out his remaining eyeball and ate it. Thomas currently sits in a small cell with his eyelids surgically closed over empty sockets while awaiting his execution. He cannot see. He cannot read. He cannot watch TV and is left with nothing but his own thoughts. Should some be executed despite being severely mental? Or is being executed a well deserved punishment in the eyes of the law? That has been the controversy regarding the Andre Thomas case. On March 27, 2004 in Grayson County Texas, Thomas broke into his estranged wife's house 20 year old Laura Thomas, who at the time was home with their 4-year-old son, Andre Lee and Laura's 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes. During this time Laura had moved on from Andre and was now with her new boyfriend Bryant Hughes who is the father of Leyha. Once inside, Thomas stabbed his estranged wife and the two children to death using a variety of knives so that he would not "cross contaminate" their blood. This would "allow the demons inside of them to live". Thomas then begin to cut portions of Laura's lung( he thought was her heart) and also cut the hearts of the two children. Pathologist Shelia Spotswood stated that Laura had suffered a large V-shaped stab wound to her chest as well as many other stab wounds. Spotswood said Laura suffered from internal stab wounds as well that were delivered with such force that they went through her ribs. The children also suffered similar wounds and in addition, all their ribs had been cut open. Spotswood also stated their death would have to require" more than one stabbing motion". This would mean the victim had been alive long enough to know exactly what was going on and they would have suffered an excruciating death. Near the bodies Thomas left a one dollar bill which had been folded lengthwise, exposing the pyramid with the eye in the middle. It was also stated that Thomas had been obsessing over the meaning of the pyramid on the dollar bill that he believed the eye was evil. After the killings, Thomas laid down beside his decrease estranged wife, and then stabbed himself in the chest. Thomas did not die as he thought he would but then collected the organs, stuffed them in his pocket and walked back home. After arriving home, Thomas put the three knives in the sink and changed his bloody clothing leaving them in a pile on the floor. He then called his estranged wife's parents and left this message: "Um Sherry, this is Andre. I need y'alls help, something bad is happening to me and it keeps happening and I don't know what's going on. I need some help, I think I'm in hell. I need help. Somebody needs to come and help me. I need help bad. I'm desperate. I'm afraid to go to sleep. So when you get this message, come by the house please. Hello?" Thomas told his girlfriend, Carmen Hayes and his cousin, Isaiah Gibbs what he had done and Hayes asked why? Thomas explained that he believed Laura was Jezebel and that his son was the Antichrist. Leyha was the embodiment of pure evil. Thomas' girlfriend stated that he believed he was the devil and also believed he could stop himself from talking for 24 hours than God would forgive him to which he often would placed duct tape over his mouth. Several days before the murders, Thomas had attempted suicide several times including two days before he broke into Laura's home. Thomas stabbed himself then walked into the ER and told the doctor he was trying to "cross over into heaven ". He was then referred to the mental health unit and an emergency detention order was placed on him to hold him against his will. While staff waited for the judge to sign the order, Thomas walked right out the building, and the next time he was seen was two days later after he slaughtered his family. After confessing to his girlfriend, Thomas turned himself in. Days later, Thomas plucked out his eyeball with his bare hands while in jail and then quoted Mark 9:47: "And if it causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better if you enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell". He was taken to the hospital where they attempted to reattach his eye but was unsuccessful with doing so. During his trial, his defense team, R.J. Hagood and Bobby Peterson asked the jury to take into consideration Thomas' self-mutilation and argued he was insane. They also argued that Thomas' family knew he was mentally ill from age 10 and also had several attempts of suicide then as well. Thomas' mother was nowhere to be seen through his life and lived a transient life to which she offered no support to her children. She eventually would move away leaving Thomas in the care of the justice system. During Hagwood's closing statement at the trial, he asked the jury to considered Thomas' mental illness and that Andre's life is worth saving. Peterson stated that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst and that Thomas should be placed somewhere to finally get the psychological help he needs. Unfortunately, the jury took 45 minutes to decide Andre Thomas must pay with his life and sentenced him to death. Thomas was sent to the Polunsky Unit for Texas Death Row inmates. Over the next few years Thomas continued with suicide attempts and in July 2008 slashed his throat with a razor to which he needed stitches. Three months later, he gouged out his remaining eyeball and ate it. Thomas currently sits in a small cell with his eyelids surgically closed over empty sockets while awaiting his execution. He cannot see. He cannot read. He cannot watch TV and is left with nothing but his own thoughts. Should some be executed despite being severely mental? Or is being executed a well deserved punishment in the eyes of the law? That has been the controversy regarding the Andre Thomas case. On March 27, 2004 in Grayson County Texas, Thomas broke into his estranged wife's house 20 year old Laura Thomas, who at the time was home with their 4-year-old son, Andre Lee and Laura's 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes. During this time Laura had moved on from Andre and was now with her new boyfriend Bryant Hughes who is the father of Leyha. Once inside, Thomas stabbed his estranged wife and the two children to death using a variety of knives so that he would not "cross contaminate" their blood. This would "allow the demons inside of them to live". Thomas then begin to cut portions of Laura's lung( he thought was her heart) and also cut the hearts of the two children. Pathologist Shelia Spotswood stated that Laura had suffered a large V-shaped stab wound to her chest as well as many other stab wounds. Spotswood said Laura suffered from internal stab wounds as well that were delivered with such force that they went through her ribs. The children also suffered similar wounds and in addition, all their ribs had been cut open. Spotswood also stated their death would have to require" more than one stabbing motion". This would mean the victim had been alive long enough to know exactly what was going on and they would have suffered an excruciating death. Near the bodies Thomas left a one dollar bill which had been folded lengthwise, exposing the pyramid with the eye in the middle. It was also stated that Thomas had been obsessing over the meaning of the pyramid on the dollar bill that he believed the eye was evil. After the killings, Thomas laid down beside his decrease estranged wife, and then stabbed himself in the chest. Thomas did not die as he thought he would but then collected the organs, stuffed them in his pocket and walked back home. After arriving home, Thomas put the three knives in the sink and changed his bloody clothing leaving them in a pile on the floor. He then called his estranged wife's parents and left this message: "Um Sherry, this is Andre. I need y'alls help, something bad is happening to me and it keeps happening and I don't know what's going on. I need some help, I think I'm in hell. I need help. Somebody needs to come and help me. I need help bad. I'm desperate. I'm afraid to go to sleep. So when you get this message, come by the house please. Hello?" Thomas told his girlfriend, Carmen Hayes and his cousin, Isaiah Gibbs what he had done and Hayes asked why? Thomas explained that he believed Laura was Jezebel and that his son was the Antichrist. Leyha was the embodiment of pure evil. Thomas' girlfriend stated that he believed he was the devil and also believed he could stop himself from talking for 24 hours than God would forgive him to which he often would placed duct tape over his mouth. Several days before the murders, Thomas had attempted suicide several times including two days before he broke into Laura's home. Thomas stabbed himself then walked into the ER and told the doctor he was trying to "cross over into heaven ". He was then referred to the mental health unit and an emergency detention order was placed on him to hold him against his will. While staff waited for the judge to sign the order, Thomas walked right out the building, and the next time he was seen was two days later after he slaughtered his family. After confessing to his girlfriend, Thomas turned himself in. Days later, Thomas plucked out his eyeball with his bare hands while in jail and then quoted Mark 9:47: "And if it causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better if you enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell". He was taken to the hospital where they attempted to reattach his eye but was unsuccessful with doing so. During his trial, his defense team, R.J. Hagood and Bobby Peterson asked the jury to take into consideration Thomas' self-mutilation and argued he was insane. They also argued that Thomas' family knew he was mentally ill from age 10 and also had several attempts of suicide then as well. Thomas' mother was nowhere to be seen through his life and lived a transient life to which she offered no support to her children. She eventually would move away leaving Thomas in the care of the justice system. During Hagwood's closing statement at the trial, he asked the jury to considered Thomas' mental illness and that Andre's life is worth saving. Peterson stated that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst and that Thomas should be placed somewhere to finally get the psychological help he needs. Unfortunately, the jury took 45 minutes to decide Andre Thomas must pay with his life and sentenced him to death. Thomas was sent to the Polunsky Unit for Texas Death Row inmates. Over the next few years Thomas continued with suicide attempts and in July 2008 slashed his throat with a razor to which he needed stitches. Three months later, he gouged out his remaining eyeball and ate it. Thomas currently sits in a small cell with his eyelids surgically closed over empty sockets while awaiting his execution. He cannot see. He cannot read. He cannot watch TV and is left with nothing but his own thoughts. Should some be executed despite being severely mental? Or is being executed a well deserved punishment in the eyes of the law? That has been the controversy regarding the Andre Thomas case. On March 27, 2004 in Grayson County Texas, Thomas broke into his estranged wife's house 20 year old Laura Thomas, who at the time was home with their 4-year-old son, Andre Lee and Laura's 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes. During this time Laura had moved on from Andre and was now with her new boyfriend Bryant Hughes who is the father of Leyha. Once inside, Thomas stabbed his estranged wife and the two children to death using a variety of knives so that he would not "cross contaminate" their blood. This would "allow the demons inside of them to live". Thomas then begin to cut portions of Laura's lung( he thought was her heart) and also cut the hearts of the two children. Pathologist Shelia Spotswood stated that Laura had suffered a large V-shaped stab wound to her chest as well as many other stab wounds. Spotswood said Laura suffered from internal stab wounds as well that were delivered with such force that they went through her ribs. The children also suffered similar wounds and in addition, all their ribs had been cut open. Spotswood also stated their death would have to require" more than one stabbing motion". This would mean the victim had been alive long enough to know exactly what was going on and they would have suffered an excruciating death. Near the bodies Thomas left a one dollar bill which had been folded lengthwise, exposing the pyramid with the eye in the middle. It was also stated that Thomas had been obsessing over the meaning of the pyramid on the dollar bill that he believed the eye was evil. After the killings, Thomas laid down beside his decrease estranged wife, and then stabbed himself in the chest. Thomas did not die as he thought he would but then collected the organs, stuffed them in his pocket and walked back home. After arriving home, Thomas put the three knives in the sink and changed his bloody clothing leaving them in a pile on the floor. He then called his estranged wife's parents and left this message: "Um Sherry, this is Andre. I need y'alls help, something bad is happening to me and it keeps happening and I don't know what's going on. I need some help, I think I'm in hell. I need help. Somebody needs to come and help me. I need help bad. I'm desperate. I'm afraid to go to sleep. So when you get this message, come by the house please. Hello?" Thomas told his girlfriend, Carmen Hayes and his cousin, Isaiah Gibbs what he had done and Hayes asked why? Thomas explained that he believed Laura was Jezebel and that his son was the Antichrist. Leyha was the embodiment of pure evil. Thomas' girlfriend stated that he believed he was the devil and also believed he could stop himself from talking for 24 hours than God would forgive him to which he often would placed duct tape over his mouth. Several days before the murders, Thomas had attempted suicide several times including two days before he broke into Laura's home. Thomas stabbed himself then walked into the ER and told the doctor he was trying to "cross over into heaven ". He was then referred to the mental health unit and an emergency detention order was placed on him to hold him against his will. While staff waited for the judge to sign the order, Thomas walked right out the building, and the next time he was seen was two days later after he slaughtered his family. After confessing to his girlfriend, Thomas turned himself in. Days later, Thomas plucked out his eyeball with his bare hands while in jail and then quoted Mark 9:47: "And if it causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better if you enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell". He was taken to the hospital where they attempted to reattach his eye but was unsuccessful with doing so. During his trial, his defense team, R.J. Hagood and Bobby Peterson asked the jury to take into consideration Thomas' self-mutilation and argued he was insane. They also argued that Thomas' family knew he was mentally ill from age 10 and also had several attempts of suicide then as well. Thomas' mother was nowhere to be seen through his life and lived a transient life to which she offered no support to her children. She eventually would move away leaving Thomas in the care of the justice system. During Hagwood's closing statement at the trial, he asked the jury to considered Thomas' mental illness and that Andre's life is worth saving. Peterson stated that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst and that Thomas should be placed somewhere to finally get the psychological help he needs. Unfortunately, the jury took 45 minutes to decide Andre Thomas must pay with his life and sentenced him to death. Thomas was sent to the Polunsky Unit for Texas Death Row inmates. Over the next few years Thomas continued with suicide attempts and in July 2008 slashed his throat with a razor to which he needed stitches. Three months later, he gouged out his remaining eyeball and ate it. Thomas currently sits in a small cell with his eyelids surgically closed over empty sockets while awaiting his execution. He cannot see. He cannot read. He cannot watch TV and is left with nothing but his own thoughts.