NITRO, W.Va. (WCHS) — UPDATED: 9:30 p.m., 2/22/26
A man taken into custody while naked inside the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his father.
Thomas Jeffrey Lawson Jr., 33, of Iaeger, was arraigned late Sunday in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on the murder charge.
According to a criminal complaint, Lawson Jr. shot and killed his father, Thomas Lawson Sr., on Saturday.
A man who was allegedly naked inside a Nitro casino is now a suspect in a murder investigation in a murder investigation in McDowell County. (WVDCR)
McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Detective Randall Johnson Jr. wrote that he arrived at the scene on Trail Hollow Road in Iaeger shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. Investigators said Lawson Sr. left his home on Trail Hollow Road around 2 p.m. Saturday to help his son cut trees blocking the roadway but never returned.
The victim’s wife contacted another family member after becoming concerned, and that family member called 911 around 10:30 p.m. Deputies later found Lawson Sr.’s body near his son’s home.
Investigators said the victim had been shot at least six times in the back and the back of the head. A chainsaw was found lying near his feet. Deputies said Lawson Sr. had a revolver in his pocket, but the weapon had not been fired and still contained all six rounds.
Lawson Jr. was not at the residence when deputies arrived, and his truck was also missing, according to investigators.
The victim’s wife told deputies her husband had gone to help his son cut trees and said he was afraid of him.
“Mrs. Lawson advised deputies that Mr. Lawson Sr. was afraid of his son and was ‘just trying to be a good dad,’” the complaint states. She also told investigators the two had been involved in prior incidents that became physical.
She further told deputies that shortly after her husband left the home, she heard what she believed was Lawson Jr.’s truck traveling down the road toward Route 52.
Johnson wrote that investigators learned Lawson Jr. was believed to be traveling to the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro and had a severe gambling addiction, frequently visiting the casino.
McDowell County 911 notified law enforcement in Kanawha County, who said Lawson Jr. had already been taken into custody in an unrelated incident.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, police said Lawson Jr. entered a bathroom inside the casino, removed his clothing, and exited wearing only a hat and shoes before approaching Nitro police officers working security. Police said he made an obscene gesture, shouted an obscenity, and attempted to flee before being tackled following a brief foot pursuit inside the casino.
Officers said Lawson Jr. had been at the casino since about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Investigators also said they reviewed text messages exchanged between Lawson Sr. and his son leading up to the killing. The messages discussed plans to meet and cut trees, with Lawson Sr. texting his son around 1:30 p.m. Saturday that he was on his way.
“Mr. Lawson Jr. arranged the time and date that Mr. Lawson Sr. would be at the residence,” the complaint states.
Lawson Jr. is being held at the South Central Regional Jail without bond.
UPDATED: 4:00 p.m., 2/22/26
A man who was arrested early Sunday morning after police said he was naked inside the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort is now a suspect in a murder investigation in McDowell County.
Thomas Jeffrey Lawson Jr., 33, of Iaeger, is currently incarcerated at the South Central Regional Jail after being charged with indecent exposure for the casino incident. He is also being held on a first-degree murder charge out of McDowell County, according to jail records.
McDowell County Sheriff James Muncy confirmed to Eyewitness News that Lawson Jr. is a suspect in an investigation where deputies discovered a deceased man in the Trail Hollow area near Iaeger.
Muncy said deputies responded to a welfare check around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and discovered the body. Muncy did not say how the man died and did not identify him to allow family members time to make necessary notifications.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under active investigation by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office,” the sheriff said.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court, Lawson Jr. allegedly walked up to a Nitro police officer completely naked inside the casino around 1:00 a.m. Sunday. Lawson Jr. allegedly gave the officer the middle finger, shouted an obscenity at him, and ran off.
He was tackled to the ground and taken into custody, the complaint said, adding that he was taken to a nearby bathroom and redressed before being taken out of the casino.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A man was arrested in Nitro after he was allegedly found walking naked through a casino, court records said.
Thomas Jeffrey Lawson Jr., 33, of Iaeger, was charged with indecent exposure, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
The complaint said that around 1 a.m. Sunday, Lawson walked up to a Nitro police officer completely naked inside the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro. Lawson gave the officer the middle finger, shouted an obscenity at him, and ran off, according to the complaint.
Lawson was promptly tackled to the ground and taken into custody, the complaint said, adding that he was taken to a nearby bathroom and redressed before being taken out of the casino.
Lawson is currently being held on a $750 bond at South Central Regional Jail.