On an early Tuesday morning in October 2019, the quiet of Pea Ridge Road in Frankfort, Kentucky, was shattered by a 911 hang-up call that would lead to the discovery of a beloved community member's tragic death. Responding to the call, Franklin County Sheriff's deputies entered the home of 73-year-old Ronald D. Thornton, a White male, to find him suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite the swift response, Thornton, a U.S.
Army veteran who had served in Vietnam and was retired from the Legislative Research Commission, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy would later confirm that the respected father and grandfather had died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the homicide of Ronald Thornton unfolded over the succeeding months, painting a grim picture of a planned robbery that ended in senseless violence. Investigators learned that Thornton was shot through the back door of his residence. It appeared the 73-year-old had come to the door and was fired upon, after which he was able to call for help before succumbing to his injuries. The Kentucky State Police took the lead in the investigation, meticulously gathering evidence and conducting interviews to piece together the events of that fateful morning.
Their efforts led to a significant breakthrough in November 2019 with the arrest of a juvenile in connection with Thornton's murder. Further investigation culminated in January 2021 with charges being brought against three adults. Samuel Payne, 37, of Frankfort; Damaja Hardy, 19, of Simpsonville; and Kendrick Bixler, 19, of Lawrenceburg, were each charged with one count of murder. According to law enforcement, Payne had allegedly driven Bixler, Hardy, and two juveniles to Thornton's home with the intention of committing a robbery. Social media messages between Bixler and one of the juveniles reportedly helped investigators organize the details of the planned crime. The four individuals were taken into custody, facing charges for their alleged roles in the death of Ronald Thornton.
