FORT WORTH, Texas — A man has received a death sentence from a Texas jury for the heinous act of killing and dismembering three individuals, whose remains were discovered in a dumpster that was set ablaze in Fort Worth back in 2021.
The jury in Tarrant County convicted Jason Thornburg, aged 44, of capital murder regarding the deaths of David Lueras, 42; Lauren Phillips, 34; and Maricruz Mathis, 33. His arrest warrant revealed that Thornburg admitted to law enforcement his involvement in these brutal killings.
“He embodies pure evil,” expressed prosecutor Amy Allin during her statements to the jurors.
According to the details outlined in Thornburg’s warrant, he confessed to having also murdered his roommate and girlfriend. Earlier in the year, his roommate, Mark Jewell, who was 61 years old, was found deceased following a house fire. Additionally, his girlfriend, Tanya Begay—who was a Navajo from Gallup, New Mexico—has been reported missing since she took a trip to Arizona with Thornburg in 2017.
The arrest warrant indicated that Thornburg claimed to possess extensive knowledge of the Bible and believed he was destined to “perform sacrifices.”
The defense team for Thornburg contended that he should be judged as not guilty due to reasons of insanity, arguing that mental instability played a significant role in his actions.
