Naked West Virginia Man Arrested at Casino for First-Degree Murder of Father

A naked man was arrested in West Virginia early on Sunday morning for murdering his father. 

Thomas Jeffrey Lawson Jr., 33, was placed in handcuffs at the Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro at around 1:00 a.m. ET. He was arraigned later that same day in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on the charge of first-degree murder, according to public records, as reported by WCHS-TV.

Prosecutors assert that he killed his father, Thomas Lawson Sr., on Saturday afternoon.

West Virginia man arrested for murder at casino

Investigators said that Lawson Sr. left his home on Hollow Road around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday to help his son cut trees blocking the roadway. His wife contacted a family member later that day when he did not return home, and that individual called 911 around 10:30 p.m. 

Officers located Lawson Sr.’s deceased body with “at least” six gunshot wounds in the back of the head near Lawson Jr.’s house. The son and his truck were both gone from the house when they arrived.

“Mrs. Lawson advised deputies that Mr. Lawson Sr. was afraid of his son and was ‘just trying to be a good dad,’” a criminal complaint read. The deceased’s widow also said that the father and son had been involved in previous physical altercations.

Additionally, she claimed she heard what she believed was Lawson Jr.’s truck traveling outside her house toward Route 52. 

Over at the casino at around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, Lawson Jr. allegedly entered a bathroom at the Mardi Gras casino and removed his clothes. He then exited the bathroom and approached a Nitro Police Officer, gave him the middle finger, and then ran away. He was tackled and taken into custody.

Case details

Law enforcement officers investigating Lawson Sr.’s murder contacted the casino and asked them to detain Lawson Jr. after they learned that he was heading in the direction of the casino. That’s when they were told that he’d already been placed in handcuffs in an unrelated incident.

Lawson Jr. was said to have been at the casino since around 5:30 p.m., according to the casino’s staff.

An investigation soon revealed that Lawson Sr. and Jr. exchanged text messages shortly before the murder, ultimately agreeing to meet to help cut the trees. Lawson Sr. confirmed to his son that he was en route at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“Mr. Lawson Jr. arranged the time and date that Mr. Lawson Sr. would be at the residence,” the complaint states.

Officials also learned that Lawson Jr. had a gambling addiction and was a frequent visitor at the Mardi Gras Casino. 

Lawson Jr. is being held at the South Central Regional Jail without bond.

First-degree murder in West Virginia is punishable by life imprisonment with or without parole, depending on if the defendant is granted “mercy.” Guilty with mercy would allow the defendant to become eligible for parole after 15 years of incarceration.