Man convicted in crossbow murder

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Man convicted in crossbow murder

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives

Thursday, August 20. 2009

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A Bethlehem man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the 2008 murder of his sleeping mother with a crossbow.

After two days of deliberations, a Barrow County jury of nine men and three women convicted Rodney George Thompson of felony murder and aggravated assault.

The jurors remained in the courtroom for the sentencing, which took place immediately.

Chief Superior Court Judge David Motes told Thompson that he had no latitude in sentencing, because state law allowed only a life sentence for a felony murder conviction. In Georgia, someone convicted of felony murder is not eligible for parole for 30 years.

Thompson showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict, though when he entered the courtroom minutes earlier, he appeared grim.

Twice during their deliberations, the jurors asked to hear audio recordings in evidence – the first of the initial interrogation by Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies and the other his mother’s frantic call to Barrow County E-911.

After the trial, a juror told the Barrow Journal that the lengthy deliberations were not over whether Thompson was innocent but over which type of murder he had committed: malice murder or felony murder.

“Some wanted malice murder and others wanted felony murder,” said a juror. “As a jury, we decided that felony murder was quite adequate.

“Just so long as he serves time for his bad deeds.”

Thompson on June 5, 2008 fired a crossbow bolt into the back of his mother, Marjorie Lynch, while she was sleeping. He told investigators he just intended to show his mother the weapon and that it had fired on its own.

District Attorney Brad Smith pointed out, however, that it was the victim who called 911, telling the emergency dispatcher that her son had stabbed her in the back.

Thompson told police that he picked up the phone while she was speaking to the dispatcher, then hung up, put his weapon back in his closet, and went outside and smoked a cigarette while waiting for deputies to arrive.

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#1 Anonymous on 08/21/09 at 09:19 PM [Reply]

Why wasn't he given Dealth???????
Anyone who would kill thier mother, should not be allowed to continue living at the cost of taxpayers.
THIS IS ONE THING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE USA. PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILITY OF MURDER SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH, NOT BE GIVEN RIGHTS THAT THEIR VICTIM WAS GIVEN.

#1.1 Anonymous on 08/22/09 at 08:39 AM [Reply]

“As a jury, we decided that felony murder was quite adequate."

That's why he didn't get death. Judge did the only thing he could do - Life.

Do make me proud of my fellow Barrow County citizens. WTF

#2 Capt.Obvious on 08/22/09 at 08:00 PM [Reply]

Do an open records request. Barrow Counties DA's office hands out Probation to close most of it's cases. Bridgeman boasted about clearing a 2000 case backlog, 70% or more received probation in plea deals. In fact they were given Probation on top of the Probation they already were serving. Until the DA's office and the Judges of this county start handing out hard time, criminals will thrive here. This means bigger Sheriff's Office budget, more staff and either housing out prisoners or adding on to the already full new jail. Probation should be your second chance. Screw up on probation the 1st time and your balance should be revoked not give you more probation. But hey if you don't ask no one will tell.

#2.1 Re: Death Penalty on 08/23/09 at 11:38 AM [Reply]

First, no one got probation on this case. The man got life. Secondly, there are laws surrounding application of the death penalty. Murder alone doesn't meet the legal requirements for seeking the death penalty. It's unfortunate, but it is the law and the DA, judges and juries are bound by the law.

#2.1.1 What ???? on 08/24/09 at 04:33 AM [Reply]

I don't understand why in this law felony murder is punishable by death and he didn't get it.

O.C.G.A. - 16-5-1. Murder; felony murder

(a) A person commits the offense of murder when he unlawfully and with malice aforethought, either express or implied, causes the death of another human being.

(b) Express malice is that deliberate intention unlawfully to take the life of another human being which is manifested by external circumstances capable of proof. Malice shall be implied where no considerable provocation appears and where all the circumstances of the killing show an abandoned and malignant heart.

(c) A person also commits the offense of murder when, in the commission of a felony, he causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice.

(d) A person convicted of the offense of murder shall be punished by DEATH, by imprisonment for life without parole, or by imprisonment for life.

#2.1.1.1 Brad Smith on 08/24/09 at 12:58 PM [Reply]

16-5-1 gives the definition of Murder and the punishments it can receive. However, please look at 17-10-30 which deals with the imposition of the death penalty and lists the aggravating factors that must be present before the death penalty can be given. While I have my own personal feelings about murder and the death penalty, I am always bound to follow the law. In this case, the law did not authorize the death penalty. I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write.

#2.1.1.1.1 Capt.Obvious on 08/24/09 at 03:47 PM [Reply]

Hey Brad, so why are you(and by you I mean the ADA's too) handing out so much probation? Why does a convicted felon on probation receive additional probation for new offenses? I think the REAL truth is it's all about numbers: number of cases cleared and not paying for a trial for these scumbags who continue to break the law over and over.

#2.1.1.1.2 No death penalty again!!!!! on 09/15/09 at 04:12 PM [Reply]

Mr. Smith-How on earth can you justify letting the man in Commerce who murdered his 6year old grandson and shot at the police get life???? Why didn't you seek the death penalty for him????? So people can kill their mothers and children in this county and not face the death penalty? This is terrible!!

#2.1.1.1.2.1 MKR on 09/15/09 at 08:30 PM [Reply]

The death penalty is a lot like a 15+ year sentence. They tend to stay in appeal for quite some time.

And if they win their appeal, it's exactly like such a sentence.

#2.1.1.1.2.2 In the Know on 09/16/09 at 01:09 AM [Reply]

I've spoken to those in the know on the Commerce murder case and they say the victim's family didn't want the death penalty. They wanted the man to have to face what he's done every day for the rest of his life.

For what its' worth, a death penalty case is extremely, extremely expensive to prosecute and defend (even when everyone knows who did it), and from what I understand the taxpayers have to pay for all of it (defendant apparently doesn't pay for his defense in death penalty cases). Jackson county already has one death penalty case in process. I'm not sure we could afford another one.

#2.1.2 Capt. Obvious on 08/24/09 at 09:47 AM [Reply]

While I understand that Judges are bound by law on sentences, It is these same Judges that regularly hand out 15 year sentences with only 2 years confinement and 13 years of probation. Can you tell me the last time a Barrow County "Good Ol' Boy" Jury convicted someone of Murder and they received the Death Penalty? 3 brothers convicted of shooting someone in Glenhood, Life + some years; Bubba kills his girfriend and shoots her new boyfriend, life in prison; 2 black males shoot that white guy over a bad drug deal, life in prison...see the pattern now?

#2.2 What ???? on 08/23/09 at 04:02 PM [Reply]

I not justifying additional probation as a punishment, believe me I've seen the over use of it in this county. "Hard time" as you say is easier said then done. Between the over crowding and closing of prisons, bed space is harder to find. Since the new jail was built undersized and has a section that was left incomplete due to a lack of funds its either probation or house out. If the jail was completed to the original specifications then you could house other county's over flow for a profit, hold inmates until prison bed space is available, and house inmates convicted of misdemeanors (their sentence is 12 months or less).

#3 Anonymous on 08/23/09 at 11:36 AM [Reply]

It is a disgrace that someone can intentionally murder their mother and NOT BE PUT TO DEATH.
This is the reason that jails are overcrowded. Prisoners have a better life than some working people who cannot afford what prisoners are given free.
Why should taxpayers have to pay for someone to be in prison for 20+ years, wasting our $$?
They do not give prisoners the Death Sentence, but Taxpayers are given the Death Sentence trying to survive.
What is Wrong with America?????????

#3.1 C. M. Thornton, III on 08/26/09 at 09:58 AM [Reply]

I can tell you whats wrong with the legal system. That would be the ACLU, SPLC, NAACP, Rainbow Coalition and all the rest of the left leaning nut job organizations. Thanks to these groups, and many other like them, the probation system is as huge as it is. They are why you can kill your mother and not be put do death unless there are aggravating circumstances. They are why taxpayers have to provide free health car and entertainment (like free cable tv) to inmates.

#3.1.1 Anon on 08/26/09 at 11:48 AM [Reply]

Mr. Thornton, I do not always agree with you, but this time- you are RIGHT ON!!!

#4 Anonymous on 09/01/09 at 05:58 PM [Reply]

So, can we do it like in Arizona?? No cable TV, no frills??
I guess w have to give them a bed to sleep on.

#4.1 Me, myself, and I on 09/02/09 at 07:42 AM [Reply]

Are you kidding me, lol? Some prisons now have inmates that are allowed to send and receive e-mails. How is that even possible? I couldn't believe it when I read that on another blog where people were saying they're able to correspond with friends/relatives that are incarcerated. Anyway, I don't believe in the death penalty but I do believe they(people who are guilty of murder) should be punished by not having access to anything--no tv/radio, no books/magazines/newspapers, and especially, no contact with relatives/friends--you get the picture. Afterall, loved ones of the victim(s)aren't able to see them anymore.

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