4-26-2011 Kentucky:Donald Thornhill Killed Early Monday Morning
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville Metro Police detectives spent Monday morning in a Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood after a call of a man down turned into a homicide investigation.
Police said the victim was 64-year-old registered sex-offender Donald Thornhill.
The coroner said he died of "sharp force injuries."
Thornhill was on Kentucky's sex offender registry. Police haven't said if that had anything to do with his death.
Now investigators are working to find the person responsible.
Police got the call just before 3:30 a.m. Monday. When they arrived at the home in the 9500 block of Cochise Way, they said they found Thornhill dead inside.
Investigators said it was obviously foul play.
"There were outwards signs of trauma," said Louisville Metro Police Department spokeswoman Alicia Smiley.
Neighbors said Thornhill lived at the home with his wife and mother-in-law.
"We're still trying to determine whether other people were inside the residence, whether it was one or more people. Right now, we just don't have those details," Smiley said.
Police said detectives went door to door in the early morning hours to try to get answers.
David Blevins lives next door to Thornhill. He said he didn't hear anything until his dog woke him up when police arrived.
"My dog paces the gates when something is going on. She was back there whining, wondering what all this activity is going on for," Blevins said.
As soon as the sun came up, neighbors peeked their heads outside their homes to watch police work. The overwhelming sentiment was fear and disbelief something like this could happen in their neighborhood.
"I don't think the neighborhood will ever get over this," said Catherine Brooks, who lives across from the crime scene.
Brooks said Thornhill treated her well and always said hello.
Brooks learned of his death when police knocked on her door around 5:30 a.m. Monday.
A couple of hours later, she still hadn't moved from the same spot on her couch.
"I've been sitting right here almost numb thinking about him, and I sure would like to know the whole story of what happened," Brooks said.
Thornhill is listed as being compliant on Kentucky's sex offender registry.
He was sentenced to prison on a first-degree sex abuse charge in 1990 and served his complete sentence from December 1990 to November 1992.
In 1995, he sentenced to prison on incest and second-degree persistent felony offender charges and served a complete sentence from October 1995 to May 2002.
Police have not released a motive in his slaying.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the anonymous police tip line at 502-574-LMPD. ..Source.. by WLKY.com
Murder victim was convicted sex offender
4-26-2011 Kentucky:
LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- As family members gathered outside Donald Thornhill's home, leftover crime tape dangled in the wind just a few steps away, telling the tale of what happened there.
Police found Thornhill dead inside his home around 3:30 Monday morning. They were responding to a report of a home invasion. WDRB Fox 41 News has been told the 64-year-old had been stabbed in the stomach.
"It's a total shock," says Catherine Brooks, who has lived near the family for years. She says their kids grew up together.
"They were such good neighbors," she says. "She would always come on special days, she just came and brought me an Easter basket and they brought my dog a treat, and he did, too, when he was alive."
Neighbors say Thornhill stayed there with his wife and mother.
Neighbor Marie Wilson says, "He was a nice guy. When I'd walk by, he speaks to me every time and his wife does too."
While neighbors spoke highly of Thornhill, saying he was always polite and never caused problems in the community, they also spoke about his past. He was a convicted sex offender.
State police records show Thornhill convicted on four counts of incest in December 1990. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was up to date with the state Sex Offender Registry.
Police will not say whether his prior sex crimes are related to his death. They're also withholding who was at home at the time of the attack and who called 911, saying it's too early in the investigation.
Overnight, detectives combed the scene looking for those answers. There are still no suspects.
If you have any information on the murder, you're asked to call the tipline, 574-LMPD. ..Source.. by FOX41.com
Registered sex offender found dead in home, police suspect foul play
4-26-2011 Kentucky:
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