Eva Lou Thompson Saad, a 46-year-old Caucasian woman, was found dead on September 2, 2004, at her home in Livingston, Texas. Born on December 29, 1957, in La Marque, Texas, Eva was the daughter of the late Betty Lou Thompson. She was married to Lt. Col. Ed Saad and was the mother of Mitri Saad. Eva and her family were active members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Livingston, where she served as a Eucharist Minister.
On the tragic day of September 2, 2004, Eva Lou Thompson Saad, her
husband Edmond Mitri Saad III, and their 14-year-old son Edmond Mitri Saad IV were found shot to death in their burning mobile home at the Escapees RV Park near Livingston. The bodies of Eva's mother, Betty Thompson, 74, and her father, Floyd Thompson, 75, were also found at the scene. Floyd Thompson was charged with four counts of capital murder and one count of arson. Investigators believe that the shootings stemmed from marital problems between Floyd and Betty Thompson, who were separating after 51 years of marriage.
The Saad family had moved to Livingston from Houston two years prior to the incident to care for Eva's parents. Lt. Col. Ed Saad had recently retired from the U.S. Air Force and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. The family was well-loved in their community, and their deaths left a significant impact on those who knew them. The investigation revealed that Floyd Thompson, distraught over the breakup of his marriage, committed the murders before setting the mobile home on fire. The case was a tragic example of how domestic issues can escalate to devastating violence.
