logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
1h 11m

Episode 627: The Murder of Carol Thomps...

Morbid Network | Wondery
About this episode

When thirty-four-year-old St. Paul housewife Carol Thompson was murdered in the spring of 1963, her entire neighborhood was shocked by the evil that had invaded their middle-class neighborhood. As far as anyone knew, Carol was a happily married mother of four who appeared to have it all, but the cruel brutality of her murder suggested someone had hated her enough to kill her.

When investigators began to dig deeper into Carol’s life and background, they found the truth was that, far from the happy façade she showed the world, Carol Thompson’s life was anything but happy. In the weeks that followed her death, investigators would uncover an unexpectedly complicated conspiracy involving several well-known criminals, all leading back to the one person no one wanted to suspect.

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Associated Press. 1963. "Slaying details related in court." New York Times, November 27: 49.

—. 1963. "Woman is linked to 'hire' murder." New York Times, November 5: 17.

2016. A Crime to Remember. Directed by Tony Glazer. Performed by Chloe Boxer and Christine Connor.

Cesnik, Jim. 1963. "'Cotton' Thompson--as father, friend." Minneapolis Star, June 25: 1.

Letofsky, Irv. 1963. "Never an acquittal vote." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), December 7: 1.

Letofsky, Irv, and Jim Cesnik. 1963. "City man held in Phoenix in Thompson slaying case." Star Tribune, April 20: 1.

Minneapolis Star. 1963. "FBI to check policies on Mrs. Thompson's life." Minneapolis Star , April 3: 1.

—. 1963. "St. Paul mother 'critical' after stabbing in home." Minneapolis Star, March 6: 1.

—. 1963. "Thompson arrested in wife's slaying." Minneapolis Star, June 21: 1.

Presbrey, Paul. 1963. "Thompson killing gun identified." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), April 10: 1.

Roberts, Sam. 2015. "T. Eugene Thompson dies at 88; crime stunned St. Paul." New York Times, September 6: 28.

Romer, Sam. 1963. "Interview with captured suspect." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), April 20: 1.

Rudick, Irvin. 1963. "Anderson told Sharp he slew Mrs. Thompson." Minneapolis Star, April 23: 1.

Star Tribune. 1963. "Police seek clues in St. Paul slaying." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 7: 1.

—. 1963. "Police want more talk with victim's mate." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 23: 1.

—. 1963. "Statement also lists his assets." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 27: 1.

Thompson, William. 2007. Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson. Nepean, ON: Borealis Books.

United Press International. 1963. "Thompson trial told of insurance." New York Times, November 6: 29.

Young, Douglas. 1963. "Husband of slain St. Paul woman explains $1,061,00 in insurance." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 27: 1.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Aug 21
Episode 700: Randy Kraft: The Scorecard Killer (Part 3)
Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at ... Show More
1h 23m
Aug 18
Episode 699: Randy Kraft: The Scorecard Killer (Part 2)
Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at ... Show More
1h 14m
Aug 14
Episode 698: Randy Kraft: The Scorecard Killer (Part 1)
Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at ... Show More
1h 5m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
EP115: Assassination to Asylum (feat Chris DiStefano)
Visit Patreon.com/psychopediapod for exclusive content and join our family of little freaks and semen demons!Joining us today is Chris Distefano, NY based stand up comedian. He is the host of Chrissy Chaos and the co-host of History Hyenas. Chris is headlining the world famous Ma ... Show More
1h 26m
Dec 2024
Michelle Yvette Busha
In May 1980, a woman’s body was found near Blue Earth, Minnesota. In 2015, the woman was identified as 18-year-old Michelle Yvette Busha, who had been buried in an anonymous grave for nearly 35 years. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the murder of Michelle Busha. In 1988, a fo ... Show More
1h 5m
Jul 3
The Murders of Kathy Perry and Rhonda Travers (Rhode Island)
In a nine-month span between 1986 and 1987, two women were found brutally slain in the same Rhode Island city. Investigators believed that the first was abducted from the side of the road on her way home from work in the middle of the night, while the second appeared to get into ... Show More
37m 11s
Aug 2023
190: The Murder of Liz Sennett
In the spring of 1988, Liz and Charles Sennett were pillars of the Colbert County, Alabama, community. 45-year-old Liz was a mother, grandmother, and homemaker. Charles was a local pastor. They were beloved and respected. On March 18th, Charles discovered Liz's lifeless body in t ... Show More
56m 36s
Oct 2023
196: The 1969 Memphis Serial Killer Known as the Cunning Sex Killer
From August 13th to September 11th of 1969, five innocent people died at the hands of a serial killer in Memphis, Tennessee. 58-year-old Roy Dumas and his wife, 47-year-old Bernalyn Dumas; 82-year-old Leila Jackson; 21-year-old Glenda Sue Harden; and 59-year-old Mary Christine Pi ... Show More
56m 5s
Aug 2024
Las Vegas Reporter Brutally Murdered: Jeff German's Assassination
Jeff German, an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was deeply dedicated to his work—a commitment that might have ultimately cost him his life. Jeff was a well-known figure in the community, celebrated for his fearless coverage of notorious mobsters, corrupt ... Show More
1h 36m
Jan 2025
Ret. FBI Robin Dreeke Breaks Down The New MURDER Accusations Against Diddy
What happens when untimely deaths, mysterious illnesses, and allegations of murder swirl around a global music icon? The case of Kim Porter’s tragic passing raises some unsettling questions. Low-bar pneumonia at 47? Sure, it’s rare—but when you add in allegations of sex trafficki ... Show More
22m 1s
Apr 2025
Lori Vallow Daybell's phone calls. Karen Read's retrial set to start. And Houston's "lost boys".
Listen to this week's episode of the Dateline: True Crime Weekly podcast with guest host, Blayne Alexander. In Arizona, the prosecution plays phone calls Lori made to her insurance agent in the days after her husband's shooting. In Massachusetts, a jury is finally seated in the K ... Show More
27m 44s
Oct 2023
197: Memphis Serial Killer: George Howard Putt-part 2 of 2
In August and September of 1969, one man killed five people in the span of 29 days in Memphis, Tennessee. These violent crimes shook the city of Memphis to its very core. Lock sales skyrocketed. Families adopted large dogs. People refused to leave their house after sunset. It fel ... Show More
45m 19s
Jun 19
92: MURDER: Donna O'Steen
On the morning of November 8, 2001, 53-year-old Donna O’Steen was found murdered inside her home in Seattle. She had been bound with duct tape and stabbed multiple times. There were signs of a robbery—but it wasn’t clear if that was the real motive. There were no signs of forced ... Show More
51m 52s