THE DARK SIDE OF NEBRASKA
Thomas Fleming
#37756
photo courtesy NDCS
Full Name: Thomas L. Fleming
DOB: December 31, 1960
Charge: 1st degree murder - attempted
County: Lancaster
City: Lincoln
Current Status: Omaha Correctional Center
Partner in Crime: Paul Kennedy
Date of Crime: August 31, 1991
Victim: Max Fredrickson
DOB: December 31, 1960
Charge: 1st degree murder - attempted
County: Lancaster
City: Lincoln
Current Status: Omaha Correctional Center
Partner in Crime: Paul Kennedy
Date of Crime: August 31, 1991
Victim: Max Fredrickson
At approximately 8 AM on Saturday morning, August 31, 1991, Max Fredrickson began his garbage route through the penitentiary. He was met at the front gate by a correctional officer who was assigned to escort the truck through.
At one of the garbage pickup stations, Thomas Fleming, along with Paul Kennedy and Richard Schwartz, attempted to commandeer the garbage truck. Richard climbed into the cab and threw liquid accelerant onto Max. Max turned sideways and began kicking Paul, who began stabbing at Max's legs with an ice pick. Thomas then grabbed Max from behind and pulled him to the ground, stabbing and hitting him on the way down.
As he was being dragged from the truck, Max reached up and turned off the truck, pulling the keys from the ignition and throwing them away from the truck. Max then stood up, and Richard, who had gotten out of the truck, threw more liquid accelerant on him, lit a book of matches and threw it at Max, who "exploded" in flames.
When correctional officers reached the truck, they found Richard, Paul and Thomas sitting in the cab of the garbage truck attempting to get it started. Paul was escorted from the truck to the control center where he was searched. During the search, officers found that Paul was wearing two sets of clothing and that he had a homemade knife shaped like an ice pick, an address book, and personal photographs.
In all, Max testified that he was stabbed three times in the right leg, once in the abdomen, once in the chest, three times across the back, and twice in the head. He had burns over 64 percent of his body. At the time of the trial, despite several skin grafts, Max still had very limited use of his hands and had missed one full year of work.
At one of the garbage pickup stations, Thomas Fleming, along with Paul Kennedy and Richard Schwartz, attempted to commandeer the garbage truck. Richard climbed into the cab and threw liquid accelerant onto Max. Max turned sideways and began kicking Paul, who began stabbing at Max's legs with an ice pick. Thomas then grabbed Max from behind and pulled him to the ground, stabbing and hitting him on the way down.
As he was being dragged from the truck, Max reached up and turned off the truck, pulling the keys from the ignition and throwing them away from the truck. Max then stood up, and Richard, who had gotten out of the truck, threw more liquid accelerant on him, lit a book of matches and threw it at Max, who "exploded" in flames.
When correctional officers reached the truck, they found Richard, Paul and Thomas sitting in the cab of the garbage truck attempting to get it started. Paul was escorted from the truck to the control center where he was searched. During the search, officers found that Paul was wearing two sets of clothing and that he had a homemade knife shaped like an ice pick, an address book, and personal photographs.
In all, Max testified that he was stabbed three times in the right leg, once in the abdomen, once in the chest, three times across the back, and twice in the head. He had burns over 64 percent of his body. At the time of the trial, despite several skin grafts, Max still had very limited use of his hands and had missed one full year of work.
Source: FindACase