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Thread: Matthew Wood Sentenced to 3 Life Terms in 2009 TN Murders Of Family Of 3

  1. #1
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    Matthew Wood Sentenced to 3 Life Terms in 2009 TN Murders Of Family Of 3

    Teenagers indicted for murder

    PULASKI — Prosecutors could announce as soon as Monday whether they will seek the death penalty against two teenagers accused of slaying a mother and her two children.

    Matthew Wood and William Angel, both 18-years-old, were indicted on 11 counts each in connection with the killings of Desere Thornton, 38, Jerrod, 16, and 9-year-old Anthony Thornton.

    A Giles County grand jury indicted the teens Friday on three counts each of premeditated first-degree murder, three counts each of felony murder, one count each of aggravated arson, setting fire to personal property, animal cruelty, theft and aggravated burglary.

    The teenagers are scheduled to appear in court for arraignment Monday. District Attorney General Mike Bottoms said by then he hopes to have determined the severity of the punishment he will request.

    Authorities have said the teens broke into the Thornton residence on 342 Milky Way Road Oct. 23 to confront Jerrod Thornton over a dispute about a girl.

    A search warrant, which was unsealed by a judge in November, states Wood and Angel allegedly stabbed the victims to death. The two teens then allegedly poured gasoline inside the residence and on a vehicle in attempt to cover up the crime, according to the warrant.

    Bottoms said the teens also allegedly killed the family dog and stole an Xbox 360 video game system before setting the house on fire.


    Angel was arrested the same day the bodies were found, and Wood was taken into custody a few weeks later after recovering from burns at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

    The two suspects are being held in Maury County Jail with no bond set.

    http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2010/01/20/top_stories/04firemurder.txt

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    State To Seek Death Penalty Against Teens

    PULASKI, Tenn. - NewsChannel 5 has learned that the state of Tennessee will seek the death penalty against 18 year olds Matthew Wood and William Angel for their crimes.

    Angel and Wood are accused of killing Desere Thornton and her two sons, 16-year-old Jerrod and 9-year old Anthony, this past October.

    A grand jury indicted the teens for premeditated first degree murder, felony first degree murder, aggravated arson, setting fire to personal property, theft, cruelty to animals and aggravated burglary.

    Police said Wood and Angel slit their victims' throats, killed the family dog, and then stole an X-Box game before setting the house on fire.

    Those close to the case said that is just the tip of the iceberg, that even more shocking details are expected in their trial.

    They would be the youngest to receive the death penalty in Tennessee.

    http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=11862693

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    Teen murder suspects face 2011 trial

    Jury selection to begin in February

    By Staff Reports

    PULASKI — Two teenagers accused of brutally slaying a mother and her two children will not go on trial until 2011.

    Matthew Wood and William Angel Jr., both 18, appeared in Giles County Court Monday, more than seven months after the remains of Desere Thornton, 38, Jerrod Thornton, 16, and 9-year-old Anthony Thornton were found in the charred rubble of their Milky Way Road home.

    Jury selection for Wood’s trial is scheduled to begin February 28 and Angel will face a jury on May 9, 2011. District Attorney General Mike Bottoms said the time allows for certain motions to be filed before a jury is selected.
    Sandrell Heating & Air

    Wood and Angel both face the death penalty for allegedly killing the family at their Pulaski home in October.

    Authorities say the homicides were triggered by a dispute between the suspects and Jerrod Thornton over a girl.

    The teens allegedly broke into the family’s home before stabbing them to death.

    Authorities believe in addition to slaying the family, Angel and Wood killed the family dog and stole an Xbox 360 gaming system before setting the home ablaze to cover up the crime.


    Wood and Angel each face the same 11 charges: three counts of pre-meditated first-degree murder, three counts of felony murder, and one count each of aggravated arson, setting fire to personal property, aggravated burglary, theft and aggravated cruelty to animals.

    http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2010/05/26/top_stories/01teentrial.txt

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    Teen Accused Of Triple Murder Asks For Change of Venue

    GILES COUNTY, Tenn. - One of the teenage suspects accused of a triple homicide in Giles County has asked for his trial to be moved.

    Matthew Wood faces the death penalty and his trial is set for February. Police said Wood and William Angel and her two sons, 16-year-old Jerrod and 9-year-old Anthony, and then set their house on fire.

    A judge said he'll make a decision on the change of venue later this month.

    Angel pleaded guilty to all charges this week, and agreed to truthfully testify against Wood, in exchange for a life sentence with no chance for parole.

    http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534270

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    Death penalty case to be tried in Giles County

    A teenager facing the death penalty for allegedly slaying a mother and her two children will be tried in Giles County, a circuit court clerk said.

    Matthew Wood is charged with first-degree murder for the deaths of Desere Thornton and her two sons, Jerrod and Anthony,

    Crystal Greene, Circuit Court clerk for Giles County, said Judge Robert Jones ruled Wood’s trial will take place in Giles County, while the jury will be selected from a different location, which will not be made public before the trial.

    Wood’s defense attorney had argued publicity of the trial would make it impossible to find an impartial jury in Giles County.

    Wood and William Angel Jr. were indicted earlier this year on three counts each of first-degree murder, felony murder, aggravated arson, setting fire to personal property, aggravated burglary, theft and cruelty to animals.

    Authorities believe the two teens stabbed the family to death before setting the house on fire to cover up any evidence.

    Wood is scheduled to appear for trial Feb. 28, 2011.

    Angel, who has agreed to testify against Wood in exchange for a sentence of life in prison, is scheduled to begin his trial in May 2011.

    http://www.c-dh.net/articles/2010/12.../04concert.txt

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    Teens Plead Guilty In Triple Murder In Giles County

    Two teen suspects in a high-profile triple murder case in Giles County have cut a deal and will not face the death penalty. William Angel and Matthew Wood are accused of killing Desere Thornton and her two sons, 16-year-old Jerrod and 9-year-old Anthony two years ago.

    The two suspects have reached an agreement with prosecutors for life in prison with no chance of parole. Both Angel and Wood were charged with pre-meditated first degree murder, as well as aggravated arson and other charges.

    Prosecutors planned to seek the death penalty but the victim's families did not want to go through a criminal trial. Either side could still back out of the plea deal. But if they don't then the details will be finalized during a court hearing in Pulaski later Monday.

    http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-triple...,6882259.story

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    A 9-year-old boy begged for his life while being held down by a teenager and being stabbed by another teen, according to court documents released Monday in a triple murder case in Giles County.

    Matthew Wood and William Angel Jr., both 19, pleaded guilty to murder in the deaths of a Giles County woman and her two sons. Both were sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole.

    Investigators believe the pair broke into the home of Desere Thornton on Oct. 23, 2009, and stabbed the mother and her two children, ages 16 and 9. They then set the house on fire.

    According to court documents, 9-year-old Anthony was held down by Angel while Wood cut the boy's throat and stabbed him. Documents said the boy screamed, "Stop, it hurts. Stop. I'm just a little boy."

    WTVF-TV reported that prosecutors said Wood hatched the plan because he was jealous over an ex-girlfriend spending time with the teenage victim.

    In court Monday, Wood said he had been under the influence of alcohol and marijuana during the crime, but he knew what he was doing and understood the consequences.

    The pair had faced possible death sentences.

    According to WSMV-TV, District Attorney General Mike Bottoms called it "the worst case I've ever tried."

    Evidence suggested that the victims were alive, despite their wounds, when the fire started.



    Read more: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News...#ixzz1kDncBSSO

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