A nurse at St Agnes Asylum, Thomas was murdered, mutilated and left dressed in Alexander Roby's clothing and cell. This was done to apparently fool the authorities into thinking Alexander was dead - at least for long enough to give Roby and Edwards time to escape to Loch Mullardoch.

Roby and Edwards were the obvious suspects in this murder, but the Herefordshire police initially held Lucius Harriwell, believing him responsible for all of the Asylum killings.