206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Description
See any errors? Let us know!Thomas Lee Dillon: The "Roadside Sniper"
Overview
Thomas Lee Dillon, also known as the "Roadside Sniper," was an American serial killer who terrorized southeastern Ohio between 1989 and 1992. Born on July 9, 1950, in Canton, Ohio, Dillon led a seemingly ordinary life as a draftsman and family man. However, beneath this facade, he harbored a dark obsession with hunting and killing, which escalated from animals to humans.Crimes
Dillon's killing spree began in 1989 and lasted until 1992. He targeted unsuspecting outdoorsmen, often shooting them with high-powered rifles while they were engaged in activities like jogging, hunting, or fishing. His crimes were random and motiveless, making him difficult to apprehend. Dillon later admitted to killing five men, claiming he did so simply because "they were just there."Victims
- Donald Welling: A 35-year-old man shot while jogging on April 1, 1989, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
- Jamie Paxton: A 21-year-old hunter killed on November 10, 1990, in Belmont County, Ohio.
- Kevin Loring: A 30-year-old hunter shot on November 28, 1990, in Muskingum County, Ohio.
- Claude Hawkins: A 48-year-old fisherman murdered on March 14, 1992, on federal property in Coshocton County, Ohio.
- Gary Bradley: A 44-year-old fisherman killed on April 5, 1992, in Noble County, Ohio.
Victims
See any mistakes? Let us know!
Confirmed Victims: (5)
Donald Welling Age: (35), Date of Death: 1989-04-01 ...View 4 additional victims
Links to Additional Sources (12)
See any mistakes? Let us know!Killer's Details
Thomas Lee
Dillon
July 9, 1950 Canton, Ohio, United States
October 21, 2011 (aged 61) Columbus, Ohio, United States
Male
White
The Roadside Sniper, Ohio Outdoorsman Killer
5 terms of 30 years to life for aggravated murder, 15 years additional for gun specification
5 (known)
April 1, 1989 - April 5, 1992
Ohio
November 27, 1992
07/03/2025
