Overview
- Miami-Dade's Cold Case Unit said the Clayton homicide is closed after Thomas accepted a plea before Judge Michelle Delancy on Thursday.
- Alachua County investigators alerted Miami-Dade in May 2024 after finding relevant material on a phone used by Thomas.
- Forensic testing matched nine 9mm casings from Clayton’s home to casings from the deputy shooting four days after the killing.
- Thomas was extradited to Miami-Dade in April 2025 and charged with second-degree murder before agreeing to a life-without-parole deal.
- He remains imprisoned for the deputy’s attempted murder and is also charged in a separate 2010 Gainesville homicide.