Between April 1989 and April 1992, Thomas Lee Dillon murdered five men in rural Ohio, shooting each of them dead at a distance with a rifle, just because...This documentary - which includes reconstructions as well as archive footage - tells the story of this sicko and how he was brought to book.
Although this type of random murder is far from unknown, there are some unusual features to this case, including the protracted and quite unnecessary cat and mouse game law enforcement played with him when he must have been their prime if not their only serious suspect. Having said that, he did dispose of incriminating evidence, although selling a murder weapon legally to a member of the public is probably not the most effective way.
After realising the game was up, Dillon took a plea, confessing to all five murders in order to avoid the electric chair. He died in prison of natural causes in 2011, thirteen years after this documentary was screened. His murder spree led to the passage of the "Paxton Bill", named after his youngest victim, which is aimed at preventing people like him from profiting financially from their crimes, even if they are never able to spend the money.
Although this type of random murder is far from unknown, there are some unusual features to this case, including the protracted and quite unnecessary cat and mouse game law enforcement played with him when he must have been their prime if not their only serious suspect. Having said that, he did dispose of incriminating evidence, although selling a murder weapon legally to a member of the public is probably not the most effective way.
After realising the game was up, Dillon took a plea, confessing to all five murders in order to avoid the electric chair. He died in prison of natural causes in 2011, thirteen years after this documentary was screened. His murder spree led to the passage of the "Paxton Bill", named after his youngest victim, which is aimed at preventing people like him from profiting financially from their crimes, even if they are never able to spend the money.
