FORT WORTH, Texas — A man accused of killing three people whose bodies were found burning in a Fort Worth dumpster is going on trial soon -- but not this week, as originally scheduled.
Jason Thornburg was arrested in 2021 after the bodies of the victims were found in west Fort Worth on Bonnie Drive.
The victims were identified as David Lueras, 42, Lauren Phillips, 34, and Maricruz Reyes-Mathis, 33.
Jury selection in Thornburg's case began Monday, and the trial was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Criminal District Court No. 3 in Tarrant County. But during a standard plea offer hearing Tuesday, the court agreed to a continuance in the case, pushing the trial date to Nov. 7.
Thornburg's case could be the first death penalty case tried in Tarrant County since 2019.
Prosecutors in 2022 decided to seek the death penalty against Thornburg, as then-Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson said the death penalty "is reserved for the worst of the worst criminals" and was "only fitting" for Thornburg's case.
According to the arrest warrant, Thornburg knew and met the victims at the Mid City Inn in Euless and that he confessed to his involvement in their deaths. He also "went into intimate details" about how he killed them, the arrest warrant stated.
The warrant also stated that he claimed he was being called to commit sacrifices and that he was also involved in two other separate killings, one in Texas and another in a different state.
The parents of victim Reyes-Mathis told WFAA that she stayed at the Mid City Inn and never said anything about Thornburg. They believe she didn't know him.
“She just ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said mother Mary Hanshaw.
“I really believe that he deserves the death penalty,” Hanshaw added. “Please, don’t let him out on the street again.”
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