Kathrine Frich
For more than two decades, Charles Thompson has sat on death row for a double homicide he calls the “worst day” of his life.
For more than two decades, Charles Thompson has sat on death row for a double homicide he calls the “worst day” of his life.
Now 52, he’s spent nearly half his life in solitary confinement after killing his ex-girlfriend and her partner in what he describes as a drug-fueled rage.
In a new documentary, Dead Man Walking: Dan Walker on Death Row, Thompson speaks candidly about the daily psychological toll of awaiting death, and the sound that still haunts him at night.
“You’re Not Supposed to Know When You’ll Die”
When asked about what it’s like to live with a looming execution date, Thompson didn’t hold back.
“It’s the most unnatural thing,” he told Dan Walker. “You’re not supposed to know your time.”
He described waking up from vivid “execution dreams” in a cold sweat, saying they’re the worst part of life on death row.
Solitary Confinement and Four Hours of Freedom a Week
For most of the past 25 years, Thompson has lived in solitary confinement.
“People have pets that get out of their cages more than that,” he said, referring to the four weekly hours inmates are permitted outside their cells.
Only recently did inmates gain access to TVs; before that, books were his only escape.
The Sound That Still Haunts Him at Night
“I’ve watched friends be executed,” Thompson said quietly.
But what stays with him most are the nighttime sounds: men sobbing, whispering, or screaming as they anticipate their own deaths.
“I’ve heard guys crying at night. That’s the sound that’s the hardest.”
A Life of Regret and Addiction
Thompson openly admits his crime was driven by addiction and rage. At 27, he says he was an alcoholic and heavily addicted to cocaine.
“I was immature, angry, out of control.”
He claims to feel deep regret: “I wish I could take it back.”
Escaping Prison
In 2005, Thompson managed a short-lived prison break.
He was quickly recaptured and has since remained in maximum security, with nearly no contact with the outside world, until the recent documentary interview.
The Victim’s Son Speaks Out: “That’s Point-Blank Rage”
Wade Hayslip, son of victim Dennise Hayslip, was just 13 when his mother was murdered.
In the documentary, he recalls the trauma of being pulled from school and seeing her lifeless body at the hospital.
“He shot her in the face. He saw her teeth fly out,” Wade said. “That’s not a scuffle. That’s point-blank rage.”
The Lingering Pain of a Stolen Childhood
Wade also revealed he once had recurring nightmares of Thompson shooting him. While Thompson expresses regret,
Wade’s pain remains raw, his mother’s death permanently altered the course of his life. “I had to grow up without her. That doesn’t go away.”
“I Am Very Well Read Now”
Despite the grim surroundings, Thompson tries to find purpose in reading. “I didn’t have a TV for 24 years,” he said, laughing.
“I’ve read hundreds of books. I am very well read.” But even this distraction can’t erase the past, or the uncertainty of what comes next.