Justin Love sentenced to life for Domanic Thrasher murder

Christopher Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·1 min read

After less than an hour of deliberation, a jury in Wichita County on Friday agreed on sentencing for Justin Love for the 2015 murder of Domanic Thrasher.

Wichita County Deputies walked Justin Love from the 30th district court Friday after a jury sentenced him to Life In Prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder.
Wichita County Deputies walked Justin Love from the 30th district court Friday after a jury sentenced him to Life In Prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder.

The jury on Thursday found Love guilty of engaging in criminal activity – murder related to the June 2015 death of Thrasher, a former Rider High School football star.

On Friday, Love, 33, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Justin Love in 30th district court.
Justin Love in 30th district court.

In December 2018, Love was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. However, the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth overturned the 30th District Court ruling in 2020.

Prior to his next trial for the crime, Love was arrested for two counts of aggravated perjury related to the 2018 trial.

More: Stillson: Justin Love would not be able to get a fair trial in Wichita County

More: Change-of-venue hearing set for Justin Love, retaliation charge dropped

Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie pointed to Justin Love as he told the jury he deserved life in prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder during closing argument Friday afternoon.
Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie pointed to Justin Love as he told the jury he deserved life in prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder during closing argument Friday afternoon.

Two others, Blayne Williams Brooks, 27, and Whitney Mercedes O’Brien, 26, have been tried and sentenced for their part in Thrasher’s murder.

More: Wichita County prosecutor: Love was 'criminal mastermind' in drug ring, ordered Thrasher shot

Brooks was found guilty of organized criminal activity – murder and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Wichita County deputies walked Justin Love from the 30th district court Friday after a jury sentenced him to Life In Prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder.
Wichita County deputies walked Justin Love from the 30th district court Friday after a jury sentenced him to Life In Prison for his role in Domanic Thrasher’s murder.

O’Brien was found guilty of manslaughter in a plea bargain and was sentenced in 2019 to 15 years. She was paroled in September 2020, according to court documents.

More: Eyewitness to Thrasher's murder takes stand

More: Judge denies Justin Love's request for change of venue

Love’s attorneys requested a change of venue for his trial, but the request was denied by Judge Bob Brotherton earlier this year.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Justin Love sentenced to life for Domanic Thrasher murder

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next