A Minneapolis man with a long history of domestic violence has been sentenced to nearly 34 years in prison for killing his girlfriend in Minneapolis and dumping her body in St. Louis Park, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Tuesday.
Man receives nearly 34 years for killing girlfriend and dumping body in St. Louis Park
Walter Thompson III, 55, had been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Nerissa Shaw, 46, in September 2013. Last month, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
In 2011, Shaw obtained an order of protection against him. In 2012, Thompson was convicted of violating it. In addition, he had nearly 20 domestic assault convictions involving various women.
According to the criminal complaint, somebody working at a business in St. Louis Park found Shaw's body behind the business. She had been beaten to death.
The day before Shaw's death, Walter Thompson's daughter, Rachel Thompson, received a call from her father asking her to come to his Minneapolis apartment. He asked her to bring him a large container, which she supplied.
Two days later, Walter Thompson asked his sister, Senaca Thompson, and his daughter to come to his apartment again. This time the container was heavy and had a foul smell coming from it. Thompson loaded it into Rachel Thompson's car and they drove near to the place where the body was found, according to the criminal complaint.
Rachel and Senaca Thompson were charged with aiding an offender and are scheduled for trial in January.
DAVID CHANEN