Man accused of dismembering, burning victims in dumpster allegedly said he killed for biblical sacrifices

A Texas man has confessed to triple homicide after the dismembered remains of a man and two women were discovered in a burning dumpster, police said.

Jason Alan Thornburg, 41, was taken into custody on Sept. 27 and is being held at the Tarrant County Jail on a $1 million bond for a charge of capital murder of multiple persons, KXAS-TV reported.

Citing an arrest warrant affidavit, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported David Lueras was staying with Thornburg at the Mid City Inn in Euless when, in early September, Thornburg cut Lueras' throat and dismembered and chopped up the body into small pieces in the motel’s bathroom. Police said Thornburg then put the victim's remains in Rubbermaid plastic tubs.

Following Lueras’ murder, Thornburg “sacrificed” two women, the warrant states.

On Sept. 22, Fort Worth Police said, the suspect allegedly put on a hazmat-type suit, loaded up the man and women's remains into his jeep and drove to the dumpster, where he set the body parts on fire.

Fort Worth firefighters put out the dumpster blaze and discovered the dismembered and charred remains of the three victims. Investigators located video surveillance at the scene that allegedly shows a dark Jeep Grand Cherokee with distinctive chrome rims and accents that helped lead them to Thornburg, who owns a 2008 model of the vehicle.

Authorities said Thornburg is also a person of interest in the death of his roommate, Mark Jewell, 61, who died in a fire at their home last May. At the time, police said, there wasn’t enough probable cause to arrest Thornburg since the medical examiner was unable to determine the cause of Jewell's death due to the fire and a subsequent explosion at the residence.

During questioning, Thornburg allegedly also admitted to killing his girlfriend in Arizona, police said.

“Our collective hearts broke when we heard about this story,” Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said in a Sept. 28 news conference. “It’s shocking. It’s unsettling. And we knew bringing someone to justice was paramount.”

“He didn’t have an extensive violent history,” Fort Worth homicide Sgt. Joe Loughman said of Thornburg. “I don’t know why someone would do this.”