A woman named Sally Thompson was killed in Dallas, Texas, on November 30, 1980, a crime that was later confessed to by the serial killer Carroll Edward Cole. Details about Sally’s personal life, including her age, background, and what brought her to Dallas, are not widely known. Her death is one of at least nine murders Cole admitted to committing in Texas during a violent period between 1979 and 1980. Cole’s victims were often women he met in bars, and his attacks were fueled by alcohol and a deep-seated rage.
The specific circumstances of Sally’s final day are scarce in public records. It is understood that she encountered Cole in Dallas, and her death was violent. Cole’s typical method of murder was strangulation, a pattern he followed in the majority of his confessed killings. After killing his victims, Cole would often dispose of their bodies, leaving them in locations where they might not be immediately found or identified. The discovery of Sally’s remains and the initial investigation by Dallas authorities would have been one of many challenging cases involving unidentified women in that era.
Carroll Cole’s transient lifestyle allowed him to evade capture for years. He moved frequently between Texas, Nevada, California, and other states, leaving a trail of victims. His downfall began in November 1980, shortly after Sally’s murder. On December 1, 1980, Cole strangled his last victim, Dorothy King, in a Dallas motel room. Unlike his previous crimes, he did not dispose of her body. Instead, he remained in the room and was discovered with King’s body by a motel maid. He was arrested at the scene by Dallas police.
In custody, Cole began to confess to a staggering number of murders committed over several decades. He provided details for numerous unsolved cases across the country, including the killing of Sally Thompson. His confessions were instrumental in closing cold cases for multiple police departments who had been investigating the deaths of women in their jurisdictions. Cole explained that his violence was rooted in a volatile relationship with his mother, whom he also claimed to have killed years earlier. He told investigators he targeted women who reminded him of her, particularly when he was drinking.
Following his arrest in Dallas, Cole was charged with the murder of Dorothy King. He pleaded guilty and received a life sentence in Texas. However, he was later extradited to Nevada to face charges for two murders he had committed there in 1977 and 1979. In Nevada, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Cole waived his appeals, stating that he preferred execution to a life behind bars.
Carroll Edward Cole was executed by lethal injection in Nevada on December 6, 1985. His confessions brought a final, grim resolution to the disappearances and deaths of many women, including Sally Thompson. While the legal proceedings closed the case, the full story of Sally’s life and the potential she lost remains largely untold. Her case is a somber reminder of a violent chapter in Dallas history and one of the many lives cut short by a serial predator. The case is considered solved, as her killer was identified and executed for his crimes.
