Samantha and Tom Harrison were foster siblings, and as Tom shared on the podcast Tales of Crime, their best moments were spent together. Despite their age difference, they bonded over their mutual love for classic rock music. In 1977, when Tom was just 14, Samantha took him to his first concert: a mesmerizing performance by Led Zeppelin that left a lasting impression on the young boy from Nashua, New Hampshire. Samantha, described by her brother as a vibrant “flower child,” had a magnetic personality that attracted many friends, including a man named Eric Thompson.
Samantha Was Unaware of Thompson’s Dark Past
In 1980, when Samantha was 20, she worked at a local biker bar known as OJ’s. “Think of the movie ‘Roadhouse’—this place was dark, dirty, and full of bikers,” Tom recalled. It wasn’t the ideal spot for meeting decent guys, but Eric Thompson kept returning to flirt with Samantha. With his shoulder-length hair reminiscent of a rock star, he seemed charming initially, though Tom had heard troubling rumors about him. “I tried to warn her,” he said, “but she insisted I give him a chance.” Tragically, Samantha had no idea who Eric truly was.
When Samantha excitedly informed her brother that she was heading west with Eric in 1980, she didn’t know he was fleeing from the law. Eric Thompson had a history of violence, including an incident in May 1979 where he shot a man named Mark Lewis three times in a fit of rage. Although Lewis survived, Thompson was charged with armed assault with intent to kill. After being released on bail, he asked Samantha to join him on the road, disguising his escape as a romantic adventure.
Samantha also didn’t know that Thompson was a convicted murderer. At just 17, he had shot and killed a man named Richard Lawson, receiving a manslaughter sentence of seven years but serving only one before his release. With her hair tied back and wearing a cheerful blue and white shirt, she told Tom, “I love you, and I’ll be back,” before riding away on Thompson’s motorcycle. That was the last time Tom saw his sister.
Samantha’s Last Calls from the Southwest
Two months later, Samantha called Tom collect from New Mexico, and he felt a wave of abandonment. “The call wasn’t very long,” he said. “She said, ‘I bought some turquoise, I’ll send it to you,’ and that was it for weeks.” Soon after, she mailed him a necklace and loose stones, and Tom cherished the thought that she would return for him. A few months later, she called again from Arizona, sounding distressed. “I’m coming home,” she said, but the call ended abruptly. After that, Tom never heard from her again.
Despite his attempts to file missing person reports, he was told that she might have chosen to disappear. He believed she was alive, just not reaching out. It wasn’t until 2015 that the truth began to surface.
Thompson’s New Life and Dark Secrets
Samantha’s last call was from Arizona. By 1986, under the name David Reynolds, Thompson had married a woman named Laura Simmons, with whom he had two sons. However, their marriage deteriorated, leading Laura to file for divorce in 1995. On August 10 of that year, she mysteriously vanished, leaving her minivan abandoned two blocks from their home.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that David Reynolds was actually Eric Thompson, who had a warrant out for his arrest related to his past crimes. When police searched his belongings, they found a photograph of a young woman—Samantha—hidden in his wallet. Thompson refused to identify her.
In November 1996, the state sentenced Thompson to 26 years for the shooting of Mark Lewis. Meanwhile, Arizona authorities continued to investigate Laura’s disappearance. They found her identification hidden in Thompson’s workplace, leading to murder charges against him, even without a body. He entered a “no contest” plea, acknowledging that he could be found guilty if the case went to trial.
The Chilling Connection to a Cold Case
Authorities took a closer look at the photo found with Thompson. It bore a striking resemblance to a Jane Doe discovered in 1981 in Pima County, Arizona, whose identity remained unknown. This young woman had been found strangled, and her case had gone cold for decades.
They circulated the photograph on social media to gather information, hoping someone would recognize her. Eventually, a lead came through, directing them to Tom. A detective reached out, mentioning that they had a Jane Doe who might be Samantha. They requested DNA testing, but Tom held onto hope that his sister was still alive. Sadly, the DNA results confirmed the heartbreaking truth.
Justice Remains Elusive for Samantha
Although Eric Thompson has been named a person of interest in Samantha’s murder, he has never been formally charged. He remains incarcerated until 2025. Despite the evidence linking him to her disappearance, her case remains unsolved. Tom spent years believing his sister was alive, dreaming of reuniting with her. “I feel like I’ve lost her three times,” he lamented: first when she left, then when he learned of her death, and finally when he realized that Thompson was likely her killer.
Someone out there knows more. Someone witnessed something or heard something that could shed light on Samantha’s fate. Tom urges anyone with information to come forward and contact law enforcement. His sister deserves justice, and her killer—whether it be Thompson or another—needs to be held accountable. Tom deserves more than just memories and a jar of his sister’s ashes.
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Summary
The tragic story of Samantha Harrison reveals the complexities of familial bonds and the heart-wrenching search for justice. After disappearing in 1980, her photo was found in the wallet of Eric Thompson, a convicted killer. Despite DNA evidence confirming her identity, justice remains elusive as Thompson has never been charged in her case. Her brother, Tom, is left grappling with the loss, urging anyone with information to step forward to help solve the mystery of his sister’s fate.