Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr.

Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr.
Born (1930-06-20) June 20, 1930
Residence St. Clair Correctional Facility
Springville, Alabama
Known for Participant in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
Criminal charge Murder
Criminal penalty Life imprisonment
Parent(s) Thomas Edwin "Pops" Blanton, Sr.
Motive White supremacy
Conviction(s) Murder
Partner(s)

Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr. (born June 20, 1930) was convicted in 2001 of murder for his role as conspirator in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963.[1] The bombing killed four young African-American girls (Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, and Denise McNair). Blanton was thirty-three years old at the time of the bombing.

Early life

Blanton is the son of Thomas Edwin "Pops" Blanton, Sr., who was a notorious racist in the Birmingham, Alabama area.[2] Blanton was born on the same day as Bobby Frank Cherry, one of his co-conspirators.

Trial and imprisonment

Blanton was convicted of murder in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison, with the eventual possibility of parole.

He is housed at St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville, Alabama.[3]

Blanton went before the parole board on August 3, 2016. Parole was denied.[4]

References

  1. Sack, Kevin (2 May 2001). "Ex-Klansman Is Found Guilty in '63 Bombing". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  2. Clary, Mike (14 April 2001). "Birmingham's Painful Past Reopened". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. "Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr.". Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved 15 Sep 2013.
  4. Faulk, Kent (July 14, 2016). "Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bomber up for parole next month". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 16, 2016.

Further reading

See also


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