Robert Pariset, aged 35, tragically lost his life on March 25, 1984, near Auburn, California. He was found deceased at a campground, having been a resident of El Dorado County and employed as a maintenance man for Sacramento County. Pariset's death was not a mere accident but a brutal murder that shocked the local community. He was in the area for recreational activities such as fishing and gold panning with his brother, John Pariset, aged 28.
The brothers encountered William Paul Thompson and Robert Herman Boyle at a local bar known as Murderer's Bar, located about four miles northeast of Auburn. The group decided to continue their evening at Thompson and Boyle's campsite, where they consumed alcohol and marijuana.
As the night progressed, tensions escalated. Thompson, who had a history of violent behavior and criminal activities, grew increasingly annoyed with the Pariset brothers, particularly due to their noisy motorcycles and Robert's drunkenness. This annoyance culminated in a violent confrontation. When John Pariset and Boyle went to retrieve sleeping bags from a camper van, they returned to find Robert Pariset lying on the ground. Initially, they assumed he had fallen asleep, but it soon became evident that he had been fatally attacked by Thompson.
The investigation into Robert Pariset's death led to the arrest of William Paul Thompson. Thompson, a transient with a long criminal record, was charged with the murders of both Robert and John Pariset. The case garnered significant attention, and Placer County prosecutors sought the death penalty for Thompson. His defense attorney, Thomas Condit, filed a demurrer in the case, but the severity of the crime and Thompson's criminal history weighed heavily against him.
Thompson's trial revealed his violent tendencies and his involvement in multiple murders across different states. He was eventually convicted of the murders of the Pariset brothers and sentenced to death. Thompson's execution took place in 1989, bringing a grim end to a case that had left a lasting impact on the Auburn community. The tragic deaths of Robert and John Pariset serve as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with violent pasts and the importance of vigilance in ensuring community safety.
