Judge Joe Grammer in Panama City has denied Derrick Ray Thompson, 41, bond after his arrest in connection to three slayings. Thompson confessed a desire for drugs motivated the murders. Grammer also denied Thompson a public defender citing Thompson's income last year was more than $60,000. Grammer asked if income figures were accurate. Thompson said, "Not anymore." Grammer replied, "Definitely not after yesterday."
Thompson was charged with an open count of murder in Bay County Tuesday. His next court date is schedule for August 19. Santa Rosa County authorities have not yet charged Thompson in the Zackowskis' deaths. Authorities expect to have an order for trial procedure within 30 days.
Thompson was captured without incident at a hunting club outside of Troy, AL on Tuesday. A team comprised of US Marshals, Troy Police Department, and Pike County Sheriff’s Office formed a perimeter and moved in on the suspect when Thompson attempted to leave at daybreak. Reports said SWAT used a flash bang device to take him into custody.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) reported interest in Thompson, in connection with the death of Allen Sidney Johnson, 67, Wilson Avenue, Bay County Monday afternoon. Thompson was also wanted for questioning in reference to the Sunday morning double homicide of Steven and Debra Zackowski, Milton.
On Monday, a call to the BCSO came from Johnson’s family members at 1:30 p.m., said Bay County Public Information Officer Ruth Corley. Reports said family members had not been able to contact him and busted down his door. Corley said Johnson was found shot dead at his home in Lynn Haven. Thompson’s vehicle was found at Johnson’s residence and Johnson’s vehicle was missing. BCSO reported a handgun, rifle and personal checks were also missing. BCSO found a $500 check written to Thompson dated July 21, at the crime scene. Johnson was a business man in Bay County, owning adult establishments, including ‘Show ‘n’ Tail’ and reports also said Johnson was a deputy with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office from 1974 until 1988, and was the first to work undercover in drug enforcement for the BCSO. BCSO reported while in Johnson’s vehicle, Thompson used money obtained from Johnson and Johnson’s cell phone to purchase illegal narcotics shortly after the homicide. It was based on this information a warrant was obtained for Derrick Ray Thompson for the murder of Allen Johnson. Information was also obtained, said Corley, Thompson was familiar with a hunting club in Troy, Alabama and he would possibly go there to hide out. Reports said a citizen in Troy alerted law enforcement the Toyota Tundra was spotted at the hunting lease area Monday evening. After being taken into custody, Bay and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Offices reported Thompson confessed to the double homicide and the slaying of Johnson in Bay County. Reports said Johnson fled Santa Rosa County after the double homicide Saturday night and stayed in Panama City Beach with a friend. Sunday morning, reports said Thompson traveled to Chipley and stayed the night in a motel. After checking media reports online, he found out law enforcement officers were looking for him and called Allen Johnson and asked if he could come to Johnson’s residence on Wilson Avenue under the guise of borrowing money. Reports said Allen Johnson, an acquaintance of Thompson’s was unaware Thompson was a person of interest in the double homicide in Santa Rosa County
On Sunday, the Zackowski couple, Steven, 60, and Debra, 59, were found shot to death inside their home on Goliath Road. Steven Zackowski worked at Motes Builders, said deputies. Reports said a medical call was dispatched to their address Sunday morning for a cardiac arrest for both a male and female and said they were probably already deceased. SRSO said Thompson was already wanted in Santa Rosa County for burglary, grand theft and fraud as Zackowski filed an incident report Saturday morning, saying Thompson had taken items from his home including a key ring, cell phone and a bottle of oxycodine with 7 pills remaining. Reports said Zackowski explained a few days before he’d hired Thompson on a house he was building. Zackowski told deputies he’d heard of Thompson through a friend and made arrangements to meet at his home at 5:30 a.m., Saturday July 19. Reports said during the meeting Zackowski noticed his phone and keys were missing when he returned from the restroom, and Thompson had left the residence unexpectedly. He also saw Thompson exiting Zackowski’s vehicle, reports said. Deputies said he tried to have Thompson stop but to no avail. Thompson was charged with an open count of murder in the death of Allen Johnson. He will be extradited to Bay County and face first appearance. After this the State Attorney’s Office for the first and fourteenth judicial circuits will work together to determine which homicide case will be tried first.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Triple slaying suspect charged for murder