Louisiana child killer spared by Biden faces death penalty again after ‘outrageous’ commutation: DA
Share and Follow

A convicted child killer who was sentenced to death in 2014 but received a commuted sentence to spend life in prison under former President Joe Biden is facing the possibility of death again in Louisiana.

A Louisiana federal jury convicted Thomas Sanders, now 67, of kidnapping and murdering Las Vegas 12-year-old Lexis Roberts in 2010 and sentenced him to death — the first death penalty imposed in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana. 

Sanders was one of the 37 death row inmates who received a commuted sentence from Biden just before the 46th president left office. On Monday, a grand jury in Catahoula Parish indicted Sanders on state charges.

“I found it outrageous that President Biden would use this clemency power to commute the sentence of the child killer,” Catahoula Parish District Attorney Brad Burget told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “Whatever your politics are doesn’t matter. This is a 12-year-old who watched her mother be brutally killed by Mr. Sanders. Then, he kidnapped her and traveled halfway across the United States to rural Catahoula Parish in Louisiana, where he shot this 12-year-old three times in the head and once in the chest with a 22-caliber rifle and then slit her throat with a homemade knife.”

“This child suffered a horrible death,” Burget said. “And I think the only penalty for Sanders is the death penalty. The federal prosecutor did a wonderful job and presented the case to their jury, sought justice and got justice for Alexis and her family. And then Joe Biden decided to undo that with the signing of his signature. I don’t understand why.”

“Joe Biden decided to undo that with the signing of his signature.”

— Brad Burget

It was Biden’s decision to commute Sanders’ sentence in what Burget believes was an abuse of authority that prompted the district attorney to present the case to a Catahoula Parish grand jury on Monday “and see what Mr. Sanders’ fate would be at the state level,” he said.

A black-and-white photo of Thomas Sanders' vehicle

Thomas Sanders forced Lexis Roberts into his vehicle after killing her mother in Arizona and held the 12-year-old captive for days as they drove across the country to Louisiana. (FBI)

“I think we’ll be successful, but only time will tell,” he said. “I’ll put it in the hands of a jury … when the jury makes a decision, you have to respect that. I respect the Catahoula Parrish jury will make the right decision when I present the case to them.”

In Louisiana, Bruget explained, the district attorney does not have the ability to charge anyone with a capital offense that carries a life sentence. Such cases are presented to a grand jury. 

When Sanders was arrested in 2010, he was arrested on federal charges. There was a warrant for his arrest out of Catahoula Parish that was never executed due to the federal prosecution, Burget explained.

“Therefore, I presented it to the grand jury this past Monday,” the district attorney said. Burget presented evidence to the grand jury in court on Monday, at which point they decided to indict Sanders on state charges. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
‘Jaws’ author’s widow still visits film’s shooting location

The widow of the author of ‘Jaws’ continues to visit the filming location of the movie

The legacy of “Jaws” lives forever for Wendy Benchley. Wendy Benchley, who…
Toddler who died after being left in hot car had temperature of 107 degrees: Docs

Child found dead in hot car with body temperature of 107 degrees: Medical records

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 1-year-old boy who died Sunday after his…
12-year-old charged with murder in bicyclist's death in Albuquerque

Child, 12, accused of killing cyclist in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The youngest juvenile involved in the death of a bicyclist…
Massachusetts great white shark encounter with paddleboarders Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin in Cape Cod

Close Encounter: Paddleboarders Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin Encountered a Great White Shark in Cape Cod, Massachusetts

A Jaws-some experience. Two Massachusetts paddleboarders got a surprise when a great…
Russia launches another record drone attack, Ukrainian officials say

Ukrainian authorities report that Russia has carried out yet another unprecedented drone strike.

Russia fired a record 728 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight,…
X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigns after two years at the helm of Elon Musk's social media platform

Linda Yaccarino, former CEO of X company founded by Elon Musk, steps down after serving for two years

NEW YORK (AP) — X CEO Linda Yaccarino said she’s stepping down…
Job scams are on the rise and more people are falling for them. Protect yourself with these tips.

Increase in Job Scams Leading to More Victims: Stay Safe with These Tips.

NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging…
Shark bites beach fisherman who dragged thrashing predator back to water after catch

Shark bites beach fisherman who dragged thrashing predator back to water after catch

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A fisherman in a…