Charles Victor Thompson
Charles Victor Thompson (born 13 June 1970) is an American criminal. Sentenced to death for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Denise Hayslip, and her lover in 1998, Thompson made headlines in 2005 by escaping from Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas after a parole meeting using a forged ID badge, claiming to be with the Attorney General's office. He was captured three days later outside a liquor store in Shreveport, Louisiana where he was using a pay phone while intoxicated. He was able to get food and clothing, he told investigators, posing as a Hurricane Katrina evacuee. He also got money from Good Samaritans in Shreveport. During his escape Charles Victor Thompson neither threatened or harmed anyone.
Unfortunately, Charles Victor Thompson's story is viewed with some controversy as many believe the deaths of Denise Hayslip and Darren Cain were in self-defence and/or a crime of passion which would exclude the Capital Murder verdicts. It is also widely believed that Denise Hayslip had tragically died due to medical malpractice. Another misconception is that Denise was an ex-girlfriend of Charles' at the time, however they were dating and Denise had phoned Charles to come over early that morning when he arrived and the tragic deaths occurred.
In 2008, a book authored by Roger Rodriguez was released titled The Grass Beneath His Feet: The Charles Victor Thompson Story. In it, Rodriguez highlights the intimate details regarding the design of Charle's escape. The book does not reveal how Charles received a handcuff key.
Charles remains on death row in Livingston, Texas at the Polunsky Unit.
You can view Charles' website regarding the case here at the following link http://www.joinhandsforjustice.com/#!what-happened/aboutPage
External links
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Charles Victor Thompson
- CNN report on his escape and re-capture
- Thompson's victims memorial page as well as trial information