Niobrara Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree Murder

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release:

Shanon Ray Thomas was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Laurie Smith Camp to life in prison following his conviction for first degree murder. He was also sentenced to an additional term of imprisonment of 10 years for his conviction for use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Lastly, he was sentence to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The latter sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the life term imposed pursuant to the first degree murder conviction.

On April 18, 2010, at approximately 6:00 a.m. the lifeless body of Dawn L. Starlin was found lying behind her residence on the Santee Sioux Indian reservation. Starlin had been shot five times. Thomas was a former boyfriend of Starlin and confessed to the murder. Thomas admitted that he had experienced recent difficulties with Starlin. The difficulty related to his former relationship with Starlin and his current relationship with another woman. Thomas indicated that the other woman’s house and vehicle had been vandalized on April 17, 2010, and he believed Starlin to be responsible. As a result of the vandalism, Thomas admitted to removing a .22 caliber rifle from his bedroom at his sister's residence and placing it at the crime scene.

After leaving the rifle, Thomas and his current girlfriend went to a bar in Niobrara. After closing, they returned to the girlfriend’s residence. The girlfriend’s residence was close to Starlin’s residence. Thomas reported to investigators that Starlin came out of her residence and sat in a chair near her back door. Thomas related that Starlin said, “You guys think you’re cute,” or words to that effect, and he claimed he snapped. He told investigators that he went over to the rifle, picked it up off the ground, and started pulling the trigger. He stated that he was firing the rifle from his hip and did not know how many times he fired the rifle. Thomas admitted that Starlin was seated in a chair when he started shooting at her. After killing Dawn Starlin, Thomas fled the scene, hid the murder weapon, and concealed himself on the reservation.

Name of Defendant: Shanon R. Thomas
AKA:
Age: 34
City of Residence: Niobrara
Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty): First degree murder (life imprisonment, $250,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, $100 special assessment); use of a firearm during a crime of violence (not less than 10 years’ imprisonment-life, $250,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, $100 special assessment); felon in possession of a firearm (10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, three-year term of supervised release, $100 special assessment).
Specific Location of Alleged Crime: On and within the Santee Sioux Indian Reservation, and within Indian Country in the District of Nebraska
Location of Arrest:
Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug:
Others Charged in Same Scheme:
Relevant Dates:

Date of Alleged Crime: April 18, 2010
Federal Arrest Date: April 21, 2010
Date Complaint Issued: April 19, 2010
Indictment Returned Date: April 21, 2010,
May 18, 2010 - Superseding Indictment
Initial Appearance Date: April 21, 2010 - Indictment
May 24, 2010 - Superseding Indictment
Plea or Trial and Date(s): Trial - November 30-December 3, 2010
Sentencing Date: February 9, 2011
Next Court Hearing Type and Date: N/A

Assigned Magistrate Judge: F.A. Gossett
Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Held without Bond
In Continuous Custody Since: April 21, 2010
Assigned District Court Judge: Laurie Smith Camp
Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of this Release: SLD