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Murder of Trisa Thornley

SOLVED1978Ocala, Florida3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr
Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr — Credit: Florida Department of Corrections · Public domain

On January 23, 1978, eight-year-old Trisa Gail Thornley, a third-grade student in Ocala, Florida, was walking home from school when she encountered 20-year-old Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr., a prison officer at Marion Correctional Institution who was a friend of her family. Adams offered Thornley a ride, and she got into his car. During the journey, Adams attempted to molest and rape her; Thornley was strangled to death during this assault. Adams then removed her clothing and disposed of her body in a remote forest.

Nearly two months later, on March 15, 1978, Thornley's body was discovered by a group of men who were hunting for gophers in the same forest. Her body was found naked, with rope tied around her hands and covered with plastic bags. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be strangulation, though another forensic expert did not rule out manual suffocation as a possibility. Investigators linked Adams to the case after tracing an obscene phone call made to Thornley's family following her disappearance and death.

Adams was arrested and, on March 17, 1978, was charged with Thornley's murder. Due to significant local publicity, the trial was moved from Marion County to Lake County. On October 20, 1978, a jury found Adams guilty of first-degree murder after roughly 90 minutes of deliberation. One week later, the jury recommended a death sentence, and on January 16, 1979, Circuit Judge William F. Edwards formally sentenced Adams to death by electric chair.

Adams's case underwent an extensive series of appeals over the following decade, including reviews by the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Two death warrants were signed and later delayed—one in 1984 and another in 1986, the latter halted just 13 hours before the scheduled execution when the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay. In November 1986, the 11th Circuit sent the case back to the lower courts for re-sentencing, but the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately restored Adams's death sentence in February 1989.

A third death warrant was signed on April 18, 1989, setting the execution for May 4, 1989. After a final round of unsuccessful appeals in the days leading up to the execution, Adams was put to death by electric chair at Florida State Prison on the morning of May 4, 1989, and was pronounced dead at 7:09 a.m. Members of Thornley's family gathered outside the prison and applauded upon confirmation of the execution, while a small group of protesters also demonstrated outside. In 2009, a former classmate of Thornley's recalled playing a game of school with her on what turned out to be one of their last days together.

Key facts

Victims
Trisa Gail Thornley
Date
1978
Location
Ocala, Florida
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1969-07-27

    Trisa Gail Thornley is born.

  2. 1958-01-04

    Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr. is born.

  3. 1978-01-23

    Trisa Thornley is abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled to death in Ocala, Florida.

  4. 1978-03-15

    Thornley's body is discovered in a remote forest by men hunting for gophers.

  5. 1978-03-17

    Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr. is charged with Thornley's murder.

  6. 1978-08-30

    Adams's trial date is scheduled for October 9, 1978, and venue is moved to Lake County.

  7. 1978-10-20

    Jury finds Adams guilty of first-degree murder.

  8. 1978-10-27

    Jury recommends the death penalty for Adams.

  9. 1979-01-16

    Circuit Judge William F. Edwards formally sentences Adams to death.

  10. 1982-02-11

    Florida Supreme Court dismisses Adams's direct appeal.

  11. 1982-10-04

    U.S. Supreme Court turns down Adams's appeal.

  12. 1984-08-20

    Governor Bob Graham signs a death warrant, scheduling execution for September 19, 1984.

  13. 1985-06-17

    11th Circuit Court of Appeals turns down Adams's appeal.

  14. 1986-02-05

    Second death warrant signed, scheduling execution for March 4, 1986.

  15. 1986-02-28

    U.S. Supreme Court grants a stay of execution 13 hours before the scheduled death.

  16. 1986-11-14

    11th Circuit Court of Appeals remits case for re-sentencing.

  17. 1989-02-28

    U.S. Supreme Court restores Adams's death sentence.

  18. 1989-04-18

    Governor Bob Martinez signs a new death warrant, scheduling execution for May 4, 1989.

  19. 1989-05-04

    Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr. is executed by electric chair at Florida State Prison.

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People

  • Trisa Gail Thornley

    VICTIM

    Eight-year-old third-grade student abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered on January 23, 1978.

  • Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr.

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Trisa Thornley; sentenced to death and executed by electric chair on May 4, 1989.

  • William F. Edwards

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Circuit Judge who sentenced Adams to death and later, as Citrus County Circuit Judge, dismissed one of Adams's final appeals.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr

    mugshot

    Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr

    Credit: Florida Department of Corrections · Public domain · Source

Places

Ocala, Florida

29.1872, -82.1401

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Eight-year-old Trisa Thornley was abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled to death in Ocala, Florida, on January 23, 1978, by a family friend. Her killer, Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr., was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in 1989.
Where did the murder happen?
Ocala, Florida.
Who was convicted?
Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr. (Convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Trisa Thornley; sentenced to death and executed by electric chair on May 4, 1989.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in Florida

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Trisa ThornleyWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSBundy Is Put to Death in Florida After Admitting Trail of KillingsThe New York Times · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSLast Meals Are Quirky Customdeseret.com · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 07, 2026