Death Row Inmate Pulls Eye Out And Eats It
Death Row Inmate Pulls Eye Out And Eats It Save Email Print
Posted: 5:01 PM Jan 10, 2009
 Last Updated: 5:01 PM Jan 10, 2009
 Reporter: Courtesy KWTX.com
49 comments
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(January 9, 2009)—A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems who killed and then ripped out the hearts of his estranged wife and two young children has pulled out and eaten his only good eye, prison officials said Friday.

Andre Thomas, 25, plucked out his right eye while in jail awaiting trial in Sherman for the March 2004 stabbing deaths of his estranged wife Laura Christine Boren, 20, his 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes and his 4-year-old son Andre Lee.

A judge later ruled he was competent to stand trial.

He was sentenced to die for the murder of the 13-month-old girl.

A death-row officer at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice found Thomas in his cell with blood on his face and took him to the prison infirmary.

According to agency spokesman Jason Clark, "Thomas said he pulled out his eye and subsequently ingested it."

Thomas was treated at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler after the incident on Dec. 9 and then was transferred to a prison psychiatric facility near Houston where he remains.
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Posted by: MrT Location: LaNC on Jan 22, 2009 at 03:45 PM
Why is this story back up? This is old news. I'm sure he has passed the eye by now and its floating in the prison sewer somewhere.
Posted by: Boondoggle Location: Greenville on Jan 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Concerned, yes we need to fry them equally. No one in their right mind commits murder.
Posted by: Concerned Location: America on Jan 15, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Hey J, you enunciated my point perfectly. In addition to removing his victims' hearts, he removed his eye AND ATE IT. Is that not indicative of someone with mental illness? If not, then what is? Where do we draw the line with the death penalty? Do we execute mentally handicapped folks too? The guy obviously hasn't been navigating through life with the same set of marbles that you or I do. The article leads one to believe he has a psycological disease. I would like to know, who do you want society to execute? Mentally ill, handicapped, juveniles?...please be specfic.
Posted by: J Location: Gville on Jan 15, 2009 at 08:42 AM
CONCERNED...are you seriously taking up for this guy? Sounds like he might be a relative. Who cares how he acted before, he ATE HIS OWN EYE BALL. PLease re-read this article.
Posted by: Concerned Location: America on Jan 14, 2009 at 11:46 AM
When you read how this guy commited his crimes(removing victims' hearts), then you consider the eye removal, it is safe to say he has a mental disease. Do we want to execute people who may not have the biological faculties to think rationally like you or I? This guy is not just putting on a show to escape the death penalty. This behavior can be seen in his pre-sentencing actions(the way he commited homicide.)
Posted by: jim Location: nc on Jan 13, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Or they said keep an eye out for me.
Posted by: Hairy Location: here on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:26 PM
Craig one of his counselors must have told him to look insde himself.
Posted by: nancy Location: nebraska on Jan 13, 2009 at 04:53 PM
maybe befor this man gets his sentence with his one good eye he will see the judge who will put the fear of god in him ,,,then let somebody take his ther eye out ....
Posted by: Lynn Location: Greenville on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Guess he won't see how he's gonna die...
Posted by: ME Location: Wilson on Jan 13, 2009 at 12:44 PM
This man needs to suffer, death will be too easy of away out.
Posted by: reader Location: nc on Jan 13, 2009 at 09:05 AM
He's just trying to get attention. I don't care what he does honestly.Maybe he thinks this will get him out of being punished
Posted by: Craig Location: G-Vegas on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:15 AM
Maybe he just wanted to see himself on the inside.
Posted by: Joe Location: The Island on Jan 12, 2009 at 07:22 PM
This guy just clearly dosen't SEE whats going on. What is his real name Jeffrey Dumber. Will he be able to SEe the whole picture clearly now since he is gonna die?
Posted by: Superdave Location: Washington on Jan 12, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Better keep an eye out for this guy...
Posted by: Wanda Location: kenansville on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Boy Friday, "Eye" enjoyed your post. :)
Posted by: Wanda Location: kenansville on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Why is he still alive?
Posted by: anything goes on Jan 12, 2009 at 09:17 AM
for Chris....An eye can be surgically removed quickly...try taking your own out with anesthetic and proper tools. And yes, the state has an obligation to monitor prisoners, thier mental health and well being regardless of the person's crime and sentence.
Posted by: chica Location: g-ville on Jan 12, 2009 at 09:15 AM
what the ........?
Posted by: J Location: Gville on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Im feeling... a little...naseous. Holy Cow. The things that people do to get more and more attention. I dont think he should be able to plead insanity and let go, like they usually do. I think he should go to that trial and be punished for what he has done. CACTUS..he might eat the dog! ANYTHING GOES...Sounds like you've had experience in removing an eyeball?
Posted by: Rob Location: NC on Jan 12, 2009 at 01:24 AM
Boy Friday, brilliant post! Sounds like this dude has a very unhealthy appetite! Maybe this is the first case of someone actually seeing inside of themselves. "History of mental problems"? This guy is straight up wackaloon!
Posted by: Abraham Location: Eastern NC on Jan 11, 2009 at 11:36 PM
MAYBE UNDER OLD LAW: The Sheriff pocketed his lunch money. or It could be a confession. He may be trying to say "Eye did it."
Posted by: Boy Friday Location: Somewhere in NC on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:52 PM
"Eye" don't see what the problem is. Obviously, He can't "visualize" a way out of his dilemma. Perhaps he was a little "short-sighted" in his actions. He needs to enroll in school and become a "pupil" of a great teacher I know, Ms. "Iris Lenseman." She is great scholar of philosophy, and he would soon "see things more clearly" after a few classes with her. He will probably go "cross-eyed" from all the reading he has to do, but with her help, he will earn his degree "in the blink of an eye." Just remember...a wink is as good as a nudge to a blind man. Oy vey!!!
Posted by: CO Location: Around Town on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Same thing happened at Craven Correctional Institute, he just didn't eat the eye, he popped it in his hand.
Posted by: mitch on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:10 PM
So?
Posted by: Ike on Jan 11, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Boy, that prison food must be REALLY bad!!!
Posted by: thats pretty crazy on Jan 11, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Al, im pretty sure i would not eat my own eyeball to prove that i was insane. theres better ways to show that. besides you can see that he is very mentally disturbed by the fact that he not only killed his family, he ripped their hearts out. anyways, wouldnt you say that ALL criminals are mentally ill or insane in some way to justify their anti social behavior (except for crimes committed out of life or death situations)? whatever is done with him, i hope he is removed from the rest of the human population!
Posted by: illegalsgohome Location: NC on Jan 11, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Give him some utensils so he can work on the rest of himself and save the taxpayers a lot of money. God has seen what he has done no matter whether they deem him crazy or not and he will burn in hell for a very long time!!! So sorry for the family he murdered.
Posted by: Al Location: Greene CO on Jan 11, 2009 at 10:44 AM
There is an old saying :Eye for an Eye, Lie for Lie and Truth for Truth! And then there is Vengeance is mine saith the lord. But there is the saying Obey the laws of the land. He did the crime and I feel no remorse for him. If he is incompetent he needs to be locked up for life in a mental hospital. If not Fry his butt! I am sure his Wife and kids had no choice.And the Eye eating thing? He is trying to get attention and a lesser penalty by claiming insanity ! HE knows what he is doing!! May god have mercy on his soul! He is gonna need it ! And for the family,I hope they are finding some peace in all this and may god bless them!
Posted by: Phillip Location: New York on Jan 11, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Give him a knife and withdraw his meals, byee!
Posted by: Talon Location: NC on Jan 11, 2009 at 09:07 AM
If he will just accept Jesus as his Savior, repent of his sends and ask for forgivness, then he will be forgiven. Jesus died on the cross and took our sins upon him and took the punishment for our sins. We all have the tendency to think that OUR sins are not quite as bad as the next person's sin, but in God's eyes, sin is sin. Jesus accept's the sin of ALL who ask him.
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:53 AM
Anything goes - Do you think that they can hand baby sit every single inmate? Who would EVER think that someone would pop his own eyeball out and then eat it??? Actually the eye can be removed very fast, I have seen Organ Donor's have their eyes removed in a matter of seconds.
Posted by: anything goes on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Removing one's eye takes a lot of time....doesn't the jail keep an eye on it's inmates or have cameras in the cells yet??????? And if he had a history of removing body parts (others at least) and ingesting them, why was he not ALREADY on meds????????
Posted by: also on Jan 11, 2009 at 12:36 AM
i just posted a second ago about mentally ill people being sheltered and etc..i forgot to mention, beginning at a young age, before they do heinous acts of violence.
Posted by: more like a tough grape on Jan 11, 2009 at 12:35 AM
EW!!! this is why people who have certain mental illnesses need to be in a sheltered environment where they are taking their meds and surrounded by professionals. i dont mean imprisoned (unless theyve done something illegal), just buffered from society, which many cannot handle (as this guy obviously could not).
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:59 PM
cool, happens regularly in the states mental hospital, just doesnt make the news due to confidentiality laws etc they should just push him in a hole and be done with his crazy murderin butt
Posted by: Disgusted Location: NC on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:32 PM
to Anonoymous: that would be my guess too. He's NOT crazy, just mean.
Posted by: I bet on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I bet it smelt like somethat chickin
Posted by: Anonymous Location: belhaven on Jan 10, 2009 at 10:18 PM
if he would go ahead and eat the rest of himself we would not hafe to wast any electricity on him
Posted by: WOLFGANG Location: CHOCOWINITY,NC on Jan 10, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Well at least he can not see to rip anybody's heart out anymore. Come on Texas give him the needle. For his last meal give him a plate of butcherd Bull or Pig eyes. I agree with Ben burn in hell.
Posted by: dlh Location: goldsboro on Jan 10, 2009 at 09:14 PM
I guess he just couldn't see getting the death penalty. Get it?? AAAHHAHAHAHAHAH!!
Posted by: mr pinky Location: wilson on Jan 10, 2009 at 09:04 PM
It is a sad day when people resort to eating their own eyeballs after removing them from their own skull. This is horrible. A person this insane is truly in need of help that only God can give. May God rest this poor evil soul.
Posted by: Corny Yuh on Jan 10, 2009 at 08:38 PM
The officers need to keep a better eye on this guy
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Bertie on Jan 10, 2009 at 08:27 PM
He should done that after he kill his family for the sins that he committed. That just show that he know exactly what he is doing .But GOD CAN STILL SEE YOU. AND ALL THE SINS THAT YOU HAVE DONE
Posted by: Mark Location: Washington on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:52 PM
This isn't newsworthy. Why is WITN posting this tabloid trash?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Wow, these news stories keep getting better and better!
Posted by: Phil Location: Greenville on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Makes me wonder why we as a country still waste tax dollars on scum like this. Our prisons are full of death row inmates who have been there 10 years or longer. Give me a case of beer and and a box of shells and I can clear death row for all states free of charge. Hey Obama, now that is some change we can believe in!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:07 PM
I guess he will now request a seeing "eye" dog. How 'bout just a red tip white cane.
Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Editor; Comments have not been enabled on the Gaza story. Thanks
Posted by: ozone Location: belhaven on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:35 PM
wonder if it was chewy?
Posted by: Tad Location: Jamesville on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:24 PM
As long as he gets executed I don't care what suffering he brings upon himself while waiting for it to happen.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:22 PM
was it salty i wonder
Posted by: silvrtoy Location: North Carolina on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Is this a case of an eye for an eye
Posted by: Kathy Location: Washington on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:16 PM
He might not be able to "see" what it's like in hell but he'll still be able to feel it.
Posted by: Devil Dog Location: New Bern on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:07 PM
An EYE for an EYE, so I guess his teeth are next?
Posted by: MADDOG Location: GREENVILLE on Jan 10, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Anyone that sick you need to take out in the street and HANG him.No ? asked.
Posted by: I wonder on Jan 10, 2009 at 05:21 PM
I wonder if it tasted like chicken.
Posted by: Ben Location: Hubert, NC on Jan 10, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Thats just disgusting. That guy will burn in hell for eternity for what he has done to his family. May his wife and kids rest in peace.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: NC on Jan 10, 2009 at 05:11 PM
I guess he is trying to elude the death penalty.
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