John Joe Thomas, a 28-year-old Philadelphia-area man, spent nearly every day with his friend Murray Joseph Seidman, a 70-year-old man born with brain damage, who valued the friendship so much he made Thomas the executor and sole beneficiary of his will, and granted him power of attorney and put his name on his financial accounts. Then on Jan. 12, Thomas allegedly took a sock full of rocks and beat Seidman to death. All because, Thomas says, his friend made sexual advances toward him, and he knew the Bible says gays should be stoned.
“I stoned Murray with a rock in a sock,” Thomas confessed to police following his arrest, and after Murray’s body — while was dead for about a week — was found. The pair had met while Seidman, who surprised doctors by maintaining a pretty normal adult lifestyle despite his brain injuries, was working at a psychiatric hospital where Thomas was a patient.
When police arrived at Seidman’s apartment, Thomas was sitting in the hallway, crying. “I’m not going down there again. There is too much blood,” he allegedly said. Thomas claimed at the time that he had happened upon the killing while checking on his friend. He was later charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness, and disorderly conduct in an unrelated case. He has been in custody on those charges. Lansdowne Police Chief Daniel Kortan said the break in the murder investigation came when Thomas allegedly told an unnamed witness he had beaten an older man to death. “I killed a man,” Thomas allegedly told the witness. He is then said to have described how he put batteries and rocks in a sock and hit Seidman in the head at least 10 times.
As for his motive, Thomas pointed to the Old Testament in confessing to the crime on Wednesday. He told police the Bible says gays should be stoned to death “in certain situations” and that’s the “answer” he “received from his prayers was to put an end to the victim’s life.
He faces the death penalty if convicted.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Shannon1981
Dammit, the buybull again! This time, used in someone’s twisted, brainwashed mind, to justify murder. Just REALLY. I hope he fries. Granted if he was a mental hospital patient, he probably is really crazy but still.
Nathan
A sad story, depending on the youngster’s condition he should be moved to a higher facility security. While it is a tragic crime, we shouldn’t execute retards, only sterilize them.
Codswallop
This story has more kinks in it than a Evangelical minister!
You’ve got at least 3 motives right off the bat:
Religious mania: “God told me to do it!”
Gay panic: “He touched me!” (whether it’s true is debatable)
Good old greed: “I wanted the money!”
Based on the linked article greed seems most likely. Thomas knew he was set to inherit and it was he, not Seidman, who had been charged in the past with sexual offenses.
Ted C.
Open lewdness? That means cruising, right?
Chandler In Las Vegas
It is sad that a lonely old gay would befriend a MENTAL PATIENT.
John
@Chandler In Las Vegas: “It is sad that a lonely old gay would befriend a MENTAL PATIENT.”
Yes it is sad. Loneliness is a nemesis which stalks many gays from puberty to the grave.
If there’s any older gents reading this, here’s a place to start looking for some fulfilling companionship (and maybe more):
“Prime Timers Worldwide is a social organization that provides
older gay & bisexual men the opportunity to enrich their lives.
Membership open to men 21 years and older.”
http://www.primetimersww.org/
Oprah
Lock him up and throw away the key.
TheRealAdam
Yep, he’s completely batshit.
On another note, I really wish these older men would stick to men in their own age group, for their own protection well-being. This dude is young enough to be his grandson.
greenmanTN
The ONLY evidence that this man was gay or that he ever “touched” anyone is from his killer, who just so happens to be the beneficiary of his will! Why are you taking the word of a mental patient who beat someone to death with frigging ROCK?! How many times has a “gay panic” defense been used when it doesn’t make a bit of sense.
Here’s a mentally handicapped guy who, despite his limitations, managed an independent, productive life, then this little shit-bag comes along and sponges off him and manages to get named as beneficiary in his will then murders him. But whatever happened MUST have been the older guy’s fault, right? Nice reasoning you got going on there.
ewe
Off with his freakin head. All murderers of gay people killing for someone for being gay should be executed.
ewe
I am sure the truth is more like this brat was probably gettin dumped and couldn’t take the rejecion.
DJ
Another reason why Religion should be banned.
Pete n SFO
If the elder gent had mental limitations, how on earth was he able to name another guy… also with mental issues to be his benefactor?
Someone needs to take a closer look at that paperwork… if there’s a connection betwn the state agents or attys that made it happen & this religious wacko-du jour… then they should all be facing charges.
The ability to reason was a vulnerability of the victim… let’s hope the ability to reason doesn’t extend to those that would justify violence for a sexual advance, especially a homosexual one. If an unwanted advance were reason enough for violence, the streets would be littered with idiot straight men.
LuckyBlueEyez
This stupid little punk was trying to use an excuse to commit murder and get away with it. Send his ignorant ass to jail for the rest of his unnatural life! he should be made to suffer the worst punishment and be stoned to death for committing murder.
Brian Miller
Why does everyone keep referring to this dude as a “kid” and a “youngster?”
He is 28 — almost 29! That’s well into adulthood.
ewe
@Brian Miller: why do you refer to this murderer as a “dude”?
redball
@Brian Miller: Cuz most of the readership here is 55+. Just a guess…I have no idea! I do wonder about the demographics of these blogs…I surmise that the 18-25 set is vastly underrepresented.
Mykey
@Brian Miller: I was wondering about that myself, am 26 and don’t consider myself a youngster. When I so that mugshot of his, I actually thought he was a teen!
Jack
People are fucking twisted.
Doug
I can’t believe how judgemental and cold hearted some of you snd your comments are. In the first place this young man deserves a fair trial where all the facts come out. In the second place we live in a society where gay people and those who are different are demonized and ridiculed and as a result hatred is created. And thirdly religious doctrin and dogma teaches people to hate the sin and the sinner and as a result this young man killed another harmless old man and destroyed his own life. Its just sad we have such a cold and intolerant society with so many sick and self destructive souls. A little compassion wouldn’t hurt. p.s. I don’t think being gay or gay sex is a sin
ousslander
@Doug: you bare right,innocent until proven guilty and we should be much more tolerant of murderers. They are people too.
justiceontherocks
@Doug: The young man confessed. It’s pretty obvious he’s a thug and a wack job. If you think saying that is cold-hearted, then that’s your problem.
Oh, and if it turns out that he “destroyed his own life” because of some religious “doctrin and dogma” and not because he wanted the old man’s money, I’ll let you blow me.
Shannon
This old man targeted a YOUNG…SKINNY…MENTALLY …CRAZY PERSON TO TRY AND SEDUCE!!! IF SOME…..SOME GAY MEN WOULD QUIT ACTING LIKE PREDATORS THINGS LIME THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN! I AM SORRY….HE WAS TARGETING THIS CRAZY DUDE…OVER AND OVER AGAIN…HE BROUGHT THIS ON HIMSELF..
ewe
@Doug: What in the hell are you ranting about? IN THE FIRST PLACE: the brat killed someone and used religion as his defense. IN THE SECOND PLACE: the victim is gay. AND THRIDLY: You just agreed with what i said.
The sane Francis
First of all troll Shannon, while I may not agree with older men picking up young boys in certain situations, guess what, Mr. Seidman had brain damage, so obviously he was not fully capable of rationalizing on the level someone who does not have brain damage is able to. I’m sure he felt Mr. Thomas was kind and someone he could trust. Secondly, Mr. Thomas is 28. He’s old enough to make his own decisions, and he did when he decided to KILL Mr. Seidman and he did when he decided to basically be his boy toy until he snapped in a craze. Thirdly, Mr. Thomas is a MURDERER so obviously he’s the one at fault here. Rarely is there an excuse for murder and there certainly isn’t a valid one here. Lastly, no, no-one should be tolerant of murderers. What the fuck is that bullshit? Most murderers kill people for completely unjust reasons. That is wrong, and wrong shouldn’t be glossed over as somehow OK, when it isn’t.
Jay
@Shannon:
Seriously, people need to work on their critical reading skills. Maybe people are confusing names when they’re reading? Murray Seidman, the ‘older gay predator’ was the one born with brain damage and thus intellectually disabled. Thomas, the ‘young innocent’ man, was simply a patient in the psychiatric ward when the two met, which is indicative of absolutely nothing in regards to his mental or intellectual ability (people can be committed to psych wards for suicide attempts and deep depression). This makes Thomas’s (the younger man) mental ability questionable or suspect at best, but certainly does not absolve him of culpability for his actions.
Regardless of Seidman’s (the older man) mental status, no one ever asks to be murdered, just as much as a woman wearing a short skirt doesn’t ask to be raped.
In this case, I don’t even begin to see how people can blame a 70-year old man (Siedman) with brain damage and mental disabilities for seeking a relationship. As much as people try to asexualize the elderly and those with disabilities, mental and physical, they many times have desires for bonds, relationships, and yes, sex, like anyone else.
Before you go on an angry, all-caps, ellipse-riddled rant, at least make sure you have your facts straight.
Brian Miller
I am perfectly willing to accept the idea that the victim “brought this on themselves,” if heterosexual men are willing to accept the idea that leering at or flirting with a younger woman should result in their own deaths.
justiceontherocks
I must be missing something here. As far as I can tell the only person who has said the victim was gay is the biblical scholar with three first names who is charged with killing him. Why does everyone assume there was a sexual component to the relationship? Why does everyone assume that a 70 year old with severe long term brain damage cared about sex at all? And if the seventy year old did proposition the kid, is that a justification the beat him with a rock?
I don’t know which is worse: the homophobia in many of your posts or the lack of thought in just about all of them.
Harbo
Fry his ass
Michael
Thomas will either get sent back to the mental hospital from whence he came, or do time in the big house. Not sure which is worse.
Maxwell
Mmm, pity he never read the New testament.
To bring God into your sordid, murderous ways is, I suppose your last hope of persuading the ignorant. You ain’t fooling me you demon.
I get a certain pleasure from knowing he will be locked up with his
impotent prayers. he sounds like the brain damaged one.
Dancy
This sucks. This happened in my neighborhood!
Accidental Bear
Mental illness and ignorance is a lethal combination!
Jon
@Accidental Bear:
I agree, gays are mentally ill and he was ignorant to think that hitting on a straight man wouldn’t have consequences.
Jon
@Chupa Chups:
It was self-defense. If a woman is getting unwanted advances from a man she has a right to defend herself. This is no different
ewe
@Jon: oh looky looky. i had no idea you were fucking there. maybe we should call the police and inform them how very much you say you know about what happened Bitch?
ewe
@Chupa Chups: justiceonthecrap must die!
Re comment #31: your threat could be an indictable offense against you.
Stephie
If he really beleived he was doing the work of God, then why did he feel he need to lie about it when first questioned by the police? That right there shows he had the mental capacity to know right vs wrong, and may keep him from being able to use any type of insanity plea. If he was so creeped out by this 70 year old’s homosexual advances (ok I can’t really say I blame him here), you’d think he’d…oh, I don’t know, stop seeing him every day? Something doesn’t add up here. On an unrelated note; why does this guy look like an 11 year old?
Thomas Hubert
@Nathan: “Youngster” ? The guy is 28 years old. Just when are we going to start holding adults accountable for their actions? I know 5 year olds who know it’s not right to hit people with rocks. sheesh.
Sam
Ahhh the old “gay panic” defense.
I hope they throw the book at him and lock him up for the rest of his pathetic life.
ewe
AND NO FUCKING PENSION EITHER. THAT IS WHAT WOULD ULTIMATELY SILENCE THESE ARROGANT MOTHERFUCKERS. The only fucking danger he faces is the abundance of donuts.
ewe
this site is getting wierder and wierder flipping my comments over to other posts.
Jeffree
@Ewe: Lots of technical glitches here lately….server errors, “no gateway” responses, and blank pages with no text. I thought it was just my browser, but have same probs on other laptops etc….
Jeffree
@Chupa Chups: A copy of your post has been made, time stamped, and will be forwarded to local law enforcement personnel as well as Queerty’s legal staff.
You have completely crossed the line and violated the Terms of Service.
Jeffree
@Chupa Chups: Copies of your harassment are being compiled and expedited to Police. If you think I am joking, you are mistaken.
I am also asking that you and “Max Campbell” cease impersonating me. That behavior proves that you do not respect the Terms of Service.
Olga
Jeffree, fuck you!
cory robinson
Clearly he needs to be judged by a jury of his peers.
SteveDenver
He’s cute, he’ll meet lots of dates in prison.