In the early morning hours of August 8, 2022, the tranquil wilderness of North Cascades National Park was shattered by the sound of gunfire. This event marked the final, violent chapter in the troubled relationship of two brothers, culminating in the death of 69-year-old Robert Thomson. The male victim's life was cut short by his own brother, John Roper Thomson, then 40, in a remote pullout near Diablo Lake.
The brothers were returning from a trip to a family cabin in Republic,
Washington, a journey intended to help John detox from heroin and alcohol. However, the drive was fraught with tension, with John later alleging that his older brother had been abusive and belittling towards him. The situation escalated when they stopped their vehicle at a turnout on the North Cascades Highway. John claimed that Robert pepper-sprayed him, and in what he would later describe as an act of self-preservation, he retrieved an AR-15 style rifle from the car and shot his brother multiple times. After the shooting, he moved his brother's body down an embankment, seemingly in an attempt to conceal it.
Park rangers, alerted by reports of gunshots, discovered a large amount of blood on a guardrail and Robert Thomson's body below. John Thomson was located nearby in his vehicle and was initially questioned, denying he had heard any shots. However, the evidence at the scene, including the discovery of an AR-15 style rifle in his car, led to his arrest. He later confessed to the shooting, though he maintained that he acted in fear for his life.
John Roper Thomson was initially charged with first-degree murder, but a jury ultimately found him guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder, indicating they did not believe the act was premeditated. He was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior felony conviction. During the trial, the defense argued that a history of abuse by his older brother and his state of withdrawal were mitigating factors. In court, John expressed remorse for his actions, stating that not a day went by that he didn't think about his brother. Despite these claims, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the death of Robert Thomson.
