A Tragic Bible Study in Ulis, Texas
On the evening of September 17, 2021, in the small city of Ulis, Texas—nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth—a 42-year-old preacher named Jason Thornberg prepared his motel room to host a Bible study group. Once a devoted man of God, Thornberg had lost his home in a fire earlier that summer. Despite that setback, he continued to lead spiritual gatherings, now held in a modest motel room.
That night, Thornberg meticulously cleaned the space, arranged chairs, and laid out Bibles. At around 7 PM, a knock on the door signaled the arrival of his first visitor—David Lewis, a heavily tattooed man Jason had previously invited during a street ministry.
A Cry for Help Turned Fatal
David wasn’t there for a Bible study. Instead, he confessed he was on the run, entangled in drugs and criminal circles. Fearing for his life, he asked Jason for sanctuary.
Driven by faith and compassion, Jason welcomed David in and handed him a Bible. The two began talking and later shared several hours reading Scripture. When night fell, David begged to stay overnight, saying it wasn’t safe to return outside. After a brief hesitation, Jason agreed.
They resumed Bible study until they grew tired. David laid on a makeshift bed on the floor. Jason climbed into his own bed. Both men fell asleep—or so it seemed.
From Preacher to Killer
What David didn’t know was that Jason Thornberg harbored dark, twisted beliefs. In his warped theology, he believed human sacrifice was the purest form of serving God.
As David slept, Jason retrieved a knife, slit David’s throat, cut out his heart, and ate it as part of a horrific ritual. This marked the beginning of a five-day killing spree.
The Motel Room of Death
Over the next five days, Jason remained inside his motel room, blasting gospel music at full volume, masking the gruesome acts within. During that time, two more people—both women—entered his room, likely under the pretense of joining a Bible study. Like David, they too were brutally sacrificed.
Motel residents complained about the noise, but the manager—familiar with the motel’s rough reputation—chose not to intervene. The gospel music played non-stop, the room stayed locked, and no one suspected that a serial killer preacher was performing ritualistic murders just behind the door.
A Grisly Discovery in Fort Worth
On the morning of September 22, 2021, someone in a full hazmat suit exited the motel room carrying luggage and drove away. That person was Jason Thornberg.
Forty-five minutes later, a dumpster fire in Fort Worth caught the attention of local firefighters. After extinguishing the blaze, they peered into the dumpster—only to find charred human remains.
Police were immediately called. The investigation led straight to Jason Thornberg.
A History of Horror
During his confession, Jason revealed that David Lewis and the two women were not his first victims. He claimed that years prior, he had sacrificed his girlfriend, and that the fire that destroyed his home had been set by him to cover up the murder of his roommate.
While authorities could only verify five victims, Jason hinted at the possibility of more.
Justice Served
Jason Thornberg was arrested, charged with multiple counts of capital murder, and ultimately sentenced to death. He currently resides on death row in Texas, awaiting execution for one of the most disturbing murder cases in recent Texas history.
Final Thoughts
The case of Jason Thornberg serves as a grim reminder that evil can hide behind a façade of faith. A man once seen as a devoted preacher was, in fact, a deranged killer who used the Bible to lure and murder innocent people.