DOB: 01-27-1958 DOC#: 853651 White Female
Dubois County Circuit Court
Judge Hugo C.
Songer
Venued form Orange County
Prosecutor: Darrell Ellis, Steve Ripstra
Defense: Alphonso Manns
Date of Murder: November 2, 1984
Victim(s): John E. Thacker W/M/31 (Husband to Thacker)
Method of Murder: shooting with shotgun
Summary: Lois Thacker was the beneficiary on the life insurance policy covering her husband, John Thacker. Lois solicited three men, Buchanan, Music and Hart to kill her husband, and formulated a plan for him to be shot on a certain isolated road where her husband drove. she insisted that a shotgun with deer slugs be used, and directed that his wallet be returned to her because it had important papers in it. One night the three men joined Lois in her trailer while her husband was gone and insisted that he be killed that night. The men left, assuring her that it would be done. The plan was executed by placing a log in the road which forced Mr. Thacker to stop. When he got out of his truck, he was shot by Music. Buchanan removed the wallet which was returned to Lois that night. During her efforts to induce the men to kill Mr. Thacker, Lois told them that she wanted him killed just like she and Mr. Thacker had killed her first husband, Phillip Huff. Buchanan, Music and Hart all testified against Lois at trial after entering into plea agreements.
Conviction: Murder
Sentencing: June 27, 1985 (Death Sentence)
Aggravating Circumstances: Lying In Wait; Hiring another to kill
Mitigating Circumstances: None
Direct Appeal:
Thacker v. State, 556 N.E.2d 1315 (Ind. July 23, 1990)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0
DP Vacated 3-2 with instructions to
impose a sentence of 60 years imprisonment
(Proof of
lying in wait insufficient since Thacker not at scene;
proof of hiring to kill insufficient since no evidence
that triggerman was offered or received compensation)
Debruler Opinion; Shepard, Dickson concur; Givan, Pivarnik dissent.
On Remand:
Thacker v. State, 578 N.E.2d
351 (Ind. 1991)
(Appeal after remand and sentence of 60
years imprisonment imposed)