Cold Case Solved by Jailhouse Confession

MARSHALL � A 35-year-old cold case was resolved this week after a person of interest, who is serving time in Louisiana for another crime, confessed to two slayings in other jurisdictions as well as his role in the homicide of Chester Underwood in Marshall, according to the Longview News-Journal. He also confessed to another homicide in DeSoto Parish. Through an agreement for his confession, the Harrison County District Attorney and prosecutors in DeSoto Parish decided not to prosecute Larry Thompson, the self-confessed 71-year-old hitman, for the crimes in the respective jurisdictions.

Underwood was murdered June 25, 1979, in Marshall. Solomon said he learned of Thompson�s confession to the homicide in Marshall after being contacted by Louisiana authorities six to eight months ago.

In addition to the homicide in Marshall, Thompson made admissions to being the triggerman in the murder-for-hire death of New Jersey socialite Maria Marshall in September 1984 and the slayings of Deanna Montgomery on Jan. 1, 1979, in Shreveport, La. and Larry Wayne Lester in 1988 in DeSoto Parish, according to a report by the Shreveport Times.