In the quiet community of Owensboro, Kentucky, a life was tragically cut short on Sunday, March 8, 2020. Jacklyn West Rant Thompson, a 58-year-old woman known to her loved ones as Jackie, was found deceased in a residence on Possum Trot Road. Her death was the result of a fatal gunshot wound in what authorities would later describe as a murder-suicide.
The Daviess County Sheriff's Office investigated the scene, and autopsies confirmed the violent nature of the events that transpired.
The state medical examiner's office determined that Jackie's death was a homicide. The man responsible was identified as 66-year-old Thomas West, who died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. With the perpetrator deceased, the investigation focused on processing the evidence collected and understanding the circumstances that led to the tragic outcome. There were no outstanding suspects, and no arrests were made as the case was classified as a murder-suicide.
Jackie was born in Owensboro on May 5, 1961. She was a dedicated employee at Carhartt for nearly three decades before lending a hand at her son and daughter-in-law's business, Beef and Bacon Custom Processing. Most recently, she had been working at Chick-fil-A. A member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Jackie was a woman of faith and was formerly involved with the board of St. Joseph's Peace Mission. Her life was deeply rooted in her family and her community.
Those who knew Jackie remember her as a loving mother and grandmother who cherished time with her family above all else. She was a constant presence at her grandchildren's activities, from school performances to sporting events. Her obituary paints a picture of a woman whose greatest joy was found in the simple moments spent with her children and grandchildren. Her sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of her family and all who knew her.
