On November 21, 1987, the life of 19-year-old Kathy Carol Bonney ends tragically in Camden County, North Carolina. Her father, Thomas Lee Bonney, takes her on a drive, ostensibly to look at a truck for sale. Hours later, Kathy is dead, her body left by the Dismal Swamp Canal.
The investigation reveals chilling details. Tom Bonney reports Kathy missing, yet inconsistencies emerge in his story. Bloodstains matching Kathy’s blood type are found in his car, and his daughter Susan reports seeing them. As the truth unravels, Bonney’s mental state becomes a focal point, claiming dissociative identity disorder led to the murder.
In court, Bonney is found guilty of first-degree murder. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence is later commuted to life imprisonment. His claims of mental illness, though pivotal, fail to exonerate him. The case, steeped in psychological complexity, remains a haunting narrative of a father’s betrayal.
Story Source: Non-fiction book titled “Deadly Whispers” (Ted Schwarz).
