Texas Serial Killer Sentenced to Death for Ritualistic Murders

Jason Thornburg, convicted of killing and dismembering three people in 2021, claimed the murders were 'sacrifices' driven by his religious beliefs.

Jason Thornburg, 44, was sentenced to death by a Texas jury for the 2021 murders of three people whose dismembered bodies were found in a burning dumpster.
Thornburg confessed to the killings, describing them as religious 'sacrifices' and citing his deep knowledge of the Bible as justification for his actions.
In addition to the 2021 murders, Thornburg admitted to killing his girlfriend Tanya Begay in 2017 and his roommate Mark Jewell earlier in 2021, bringing his total known victims to five.
The jury rejected Thornburg’s insanity defense, determining his actions were premeditated and deliberate despite his claims of mental illness.
The death sentence will undergo automatic appeals as required in Texas, where the case has reignited discussions about the death penalty and mental health in the criminal justice system.