Thomas Roland Wright

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Killeen Police Department (TX)

Offense Location:

Killeen, Texas

Summary:

In the late evening of September 5, 1973, 23-year-old U.S. Army soldier SPC-5 Thomas R. Wright was found shot to death in the bedroom of his home at 2800 Terrace Drive in Killeen, Texas. He had sustained two gunshot wounds—one to the back and one to the head—from a pistol. His wife claimed she discovered his body upon returning from the store around 11:00 PM. Investigators recovered two shell casings at the scene and noted that the pistol Wright normally kept was missing.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

A close friend of the victim with known involvement in marijuana use and suspected theft activity, who had visited the house earlier that evening. He also passed a polygraph but remained the primary suspect due to evasive behavior and motive.

Additional Details:

Despite an extensive investigation, the case was marked inactive in 1975 and remains unsolved. Thomas R. Wright was a Vietnam War veteran and a recipient of the military order of the Purple Heart.

Case Last Updated:

May 22, 2025