Dateline NBC: Where are Nicole Thornhill and Chris Tomlinson now?

The murder of Gerald Jensen in 2008 led to the arrest of his stepdaughter, Nicole Thornhill, and her husband, Chris Tomlinson. Tomlinson stabbed Jensen with a samurai sword and slit his throat before dumping him in their apartment trash bin with help from Thornhill. Jensen's body was found five days later in a pile of household garbage.

After the investigation began, the Stuart police confronted Tomlinson and Thornhill with the evidence. Nicole Thornhill's confession led to their arrest as Tomlinson was sentenced to life plus 60 years at Okeechobee Correctional Institution and Thornhill was sentenced to 50 years at Homestead Correctional Institution for Women. She is expected to be released in 2053.

The Snapped episode 1 of season 34 showcases the horrific murder of Gerald Jensen as it aired on August 25, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. EST. The episode is currently streaming on Hulu and Peacock. The official synopsis reads,

"A Florida woman's desperate search for her missing husband takes a dark turn when his mutilated body is found in a landfill. As detectives dig into his home life, the victim's family becomes a crucial link to uncovering the grisly truth."

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How were Nicole Thornhill and Chris Tomlinson arrested?

On April 24, 2008, Gerald Jensen's body was found in a pile of garbage at the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Chris Tomlinson stabbed Jensen with a samurai sword and dumped his body in an apartment complex trash bin.

Nicole and Chris went through with the plan around 7 a.m. local time on April 21 and went to a doctor's appointment followed by lunch at the local Treasure Coast Square Mall.

According to Oxygen, Nicole Thornhill and Chris Tomlinson had been plotting to kill Nicole's parents for over two months as they did not wish for their child to be brought up around drugs. The duo attempted to murder Gerald's wife, Kristan, with sleeping pills.

The prosecutor, Erin Kirkwood, mentioned on Snapped,

“Tomlinson said he came out of the room with a sword, confronted him — stabbed him in the front. That had to be a terrifying way to die. Knowing that someone’s coming at you with a sword in a confined space. He didn’t deserve that.”

The authorities conducted forensic tests and found traces of a non-prescription sleeping aid in tequila and milk bottles. Besides, the murder weapon stained with blood was found from under the bed along with a WalMart receipt showing sleeping pills, per Oxygen.

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Where are Nicole Thornhill and Chris Tomlinson now?

The Stuart Police gathered the evidence from Gerald's cellphone records and presented it to their suspects, Nicole Thornhill and Chris Tomlinson when the former confessed to all their wrongdoings. Tomlinson initially denied any involvement in the crime.

He stood trial for the murder in May 2010 and a Martin County judge subsequently found him guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and poisoning, per CBS News.

Nicole Thornhill, on the other hand, took a plea deal and was convicted of second-degree murder charges, first-degree premeditated murder charges, and poisoning. The prosecutors, however, intended to pursue life imprisonment for her, per TC Palm.

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Catch all the details of Gerald Jensen's murder as the Snapped episode streams on Hulu and Peacock.