Robert C. Thornhill, 23, [BODY FOUND] Missing Since 5/17/08, Odessa, TX

[Faith]

Odessa Police Need Your Help Locating a Missing Person

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll116/helpfindthemissing/TX.jpg

The City of Odessa Police Department needs your help in locating Robert C. Thornhill.

Thornhill is 23 years of age and was last seen on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 driving away in a 1996 Chevrolet S-10 ext-cab pick up bearing Texas license plate 8NB-W03.

Thornhill is described as a White/male, 5'9" tall, 165 lbs.

He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone having seen or had contact with Thornhill is asked to contact the Odessa Police Department at (432) 333-3641, or Crime Stoppers at (432) 333-TIPS.

http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8361510&nav=menu505_2

[Faith]

Missing person


Odessa police search for 23-year-old man
May 21, 2008 - 6:47PM
ODESSA AMERICAN

Odessa police officers continued searching Wednesday for a 23-year-old man who was reported missing Saturday by family members.

Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said in a news release that Robert C. Thornhill, 23, was reported missing by his family after he was last seen at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the 2700 block of Sandalwood Lane.

Carruth said Thornhill was last seen driving a 1996 Chevrolet S-10 extended cab pickup with Texas license plate 8NB-W03.

Thornhill is 5 foot 9 inches tall, 165 pounds and has brown hair and eyes, the news release said.

To provide information on Thornhill's whereabouts, call the Odessa Police Department at 333-3641 or Odessa CrimeStoppers at 333-8477.

http://www.oaoa.com/news/thornhill_17306___article.html/odessa_missing.html

[Amusedtdth]

http://www.kwes.com/global/story.asp?s=8361510

ODESSA - Odessa Police have located the car of a missing man, but still no sign of the man.

23-year-old Robert Thornhill's pick-up was found last Monday morning with his colleague.

That person says Thornhill left the truck with him.

He's been missing since last Saturday night when he was seen driving in the 2700 block of Sandalwood.

Thornhill is about 5'9" and 165 pounds.

If you've seen him or know his whereabouts, call Odessa Police or Crime Stoppers at 333-TIPS.

[Nut44x4]

Body found near Goldsmith

June 17, 2008 - 10:21PM
OANEWS@OAOA.COM
After almost a month since he was reported missing, a body believed to be Robert C. Thornhill, 23, was found near Goldsmith.

Sgt. Paul Shepherd said in a news release that interviews with one of the suspects in the disappearance of Thornhill led officers to a body eight miles northwest of Goldsmith.

Shepherd said the body that is believed to be Robert Thornhill's was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday by the Ector County Medical Examiner's Office. The body will be taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

There are four suspects that the police department got arrest warrants for, but there have been no arrests as of press time Tuesday, the news release said.

Thornhill was reported missing on May 19 after his family had last seen him on May 17 in the 2700 block of Sandalwood Lane.

http://www.oaoa.com/news/body_18222___article.html/thornhill_goldsmith.html

[Grande]

Robert Thornhill Murder Affidavit 6/19/08

AFFIDAVIT TO ANY FACT CASE: 08-9623

Affiant has reason to believe and does believe that DEREK DAVID ELMS, WNM, SEPTEMBER 05, 1987, has committed the offense of MURDER, a FIRST DEGREE FELONY. The Affiant’s basis of belief is the following set of facts and circumstances:

1. On May 21, 2008, Robert E. Thornhill Sr., father of Robert Thornhill Jr. reported his son missing. Thornhill Sr. reported that he has not heard or seen his son since May 17th and believes his son is in danger. This case was assigned Odessa Police Department case number 08-9623.

2. Heather Mitchell, Kathleen Newbury, Derek Elms, Willie Hurst were located at 128 S. Tripp. They were transported to the Odessa Police Department where they provided statements.

3. Heather stated she picked Robert Thornhill up and then drove Robert Thornhill to a predetermined location, the 6400 Blk of Alderfer, where Derek Elms, Kathleen Newbury and Willie Hurst were waiting for them.

4. Once at this location Heather stopped the car she was driving and let Derek into the rear seat. Heather Mitchell exited the vehicle leaving Robert Thornhill and Derek Elms in the car alone.

5. Derek Elms reached over the seat, pulled Robert Thornhill’s head back and slid a large knife across his throat. Derek then kept a grip on Thornhill’s head but he was still fighting, so Derek Elms called for help from Willie Hurst.

6. Willie Hurst shot a crossbow’s bolt at Robert Thornhill. Derek Elms and Willie Hurst then pulled the body of Robert Thornhill from the car and dragged him under a carport. They covered the body and Willie Hurst, Derek Elms, Kathleen Newbury and Heather Mitchell went back to the Quail Run Apartments where they maintained an apartment.

7. Willie Hurst and Derek Elms returned to where Robert Thornhill’s body was located, so they could dispose of Thornhill’s body. Willie Hurst and Derek Elms transported Thornhill’s body somewhere in an oilfield around some pump jacks.

8. Kathleen Newbury gave a similar statement as Heather Mitchell.

9. Willie Hurst gave a similar statement including details of the murder.

10. Derek Elms provided a statement similar to the interviews provided by Kathleen Newbury and Heather Elms. Derek stated he cut the throat of Robert Thornhill and then Willie Hurst shot Robert Thornhill with a crossbow.

11. Derek Elms then said he and Willie Hurst took the body out to an oilfield lease road and they dumped the body in the ditch. Once they placed the body in the ditch Derek said they poured gasoline on the body and lit it.

12. Detectives from the Odessa Police Department were shown the location of Robert Thornhill’s body by Willie Hurst.

WHEREFORE, Affiant asks for issuance of an Arrest Warrant, charging DEREK DAVID ELMS, WNM, SEPTEMBER 05, 1987 with the offense of MURDER, a FIRST DEGREE FELONY.

http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=6632

[nanabillie]

Does anyone know why they killed this young man?

[CSOKC]

Robert Thornhill Murder Affidavit 6/19/08

AFFIDAVIT TO ANY FACT CASE: 08-9623

Affiant has reason to believe and does believe that DEREK DAVID ELMS, WNM, SEPTEMBER 05, 1987, has committed the offense of MURDER, a FIRST DEGREE FELONY. The Affiant’s basis of belief is the following set of facts and circumstances:

1. On May 21, 2008, Robert E. Thornhill Sr., father of Robert Thornhill Jr. reported his son missing. Thornhill Sr. reported that he has not heard or seen his son since May 17th and believes his son is in danger. This case was assigned Odessa Police Department case number 08-9623.

2. Heather Mitchell, Kathleen Newbury, Derek Elms, Willie Hurst were located at 128 S. Tripp. They were transported to the Odessa Police Department where they provided statements.

3. Heather stated she picked Robert Thornhill up and then drove Robert Thornhill to a predetermined location, the 6400 Blk of Alderfer, where Derek Elms, Kathleen Newbury and Willie Hurst were waiting for them.

4. Once at this location Heather stopped the car she was driving and let Derek into the rear seat. Heather Mitchell exited the vehicle leaving Robert Thornhill and Derek Elms in the car alone.

5. Derek Elms reached over the seat, pulled Robert Thornhill’s head back and slid a large knife across his throat. Derek then kept a grip on Thornhill’s head but he was still fighting, so Derek Elms called for help from Willie Hurst.

6. Willie Hurst shot a crossbow’s bolt at Robert Thornhill. Derek Elms and Willie Hurst then pulled the body of Robert Thornhill from the car and dragged him under a carport. They covered the body and Willie Hurst, Derek Elms, Kathleen Newbury and Heather Mitchell went back to the Quail Run Apartments where they maintained an apartment.

7. Willie Hurst and Derek Elms returned to where Robert Thornhill’s body was located, so they could dispose of Thornhill’s body. Willie Hurst and Derek Elms transported Thornhill’s body somewhere in an oilfield around some pump jacks.

8. Kathleen Newbury gave a similar statement as Heather Mitchell.

9. Willie Hurst gave a similar statement including details of the murder.

10. Derek Elms provided a statement similar to the interviews provided by Kathleen Newbury and Heather Elms. Derek stated he cut the throat of Robert Thornhill and then Willie Hurst shot Robert Thornhill with a crossbow.

11. Derek Elms then said he and Willie Hurst took the body out to an oilfield lease road and they dumped the body in the ditch. Once they placed the body in the ditch Derek said they poured gasoline on the body and lit it.

12. Detectives from the Odessa Police Department were shown the location of Robert Thornhill’s body by Willie Hurst.

WHEREFORE, Affiant asks for issuance of an Arrest Warrant, charging DEREK DAVID ELMS, WNM, SEPTEMBER 05, 1987 with the offense of MURDER, a FIRST DEGREE FELONY.

http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=6632
Why is this listed as "No Foul Play Involved" when it says these people were charged with his murder?

[Nut44x4]

Can this be moved to foul play now???

4 suspects indicted in man's death

The Associated Press
ODESSA, Texas — An Ector County grand jury indicted four people Monday on capital murder charges in the death of an Odessa man, whose burned body was found dumped in a ditch on an oilfield lease road near Goldsmith earlier this summer.

Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said he's not sure if the state will seek the death penalty in the cases against Derek Elms, 21; Willie Hurst, 18; Heather Mitchell, 19, and Kathleen Newbury, 20.

Bland said the four originally faced murder charges in the death of Robert Clayton Thornhill Jr., but that changed. Thornhill had been missing since May 21.

"During the course of preparation for grand jury and reviewing recently developed evidence, I determined that this murder took place during the course of a robbery," Bland said in Monday's online edition of the Odessa American.

A correction officer at the Ector County Detention Center said all four suspects had attorneys. Calls by The Associated Press seeking comment from the attorneys Monday night were not immediately returned.

The four were arrested in June and have been in custody on $500,000 bond each. Bland filed a motion Monday to deny bonds for the four.

Thornhill's throat was slashed during a fight and he was shot by a crossbow, according to a police affidavit. Thornhill's body was placed under the carport of a house and covered. The four then went back to an apartment complex, but later, Hurst and Elms allegedly returned to dispose of Thornhill's body at an oilfield lease road, according to the affidavit.

The body was dumped in a ditch and the suspects allegedly poured gasoline on the body and burned it, according to the affidavit.

Hurst led police to the body on June 17.

The four are to be arraigned Sept. 22.

http://ap.amarillonet.com/pstories/state/tx/20080909/330007892.shtml