Elderly Man Near Amarillo Charged with Manslaughter for Wife’s Death

In a recent Facebook post shared by the City of Pampa, the community was informed about a tragic incident that occurred on April 4, 2023. According to the post, officers from the Pampa Police Department, Pampa Fire Department, and Gray County EMS responded to a distress call at the 1300 block of N. Starkweather. The call reported an unconscious and unresponsive person at the location.

Upon arrival, the responding personnel made a heartbreaking discovery. Eleanor Thatcher, an 80-year-old resident of the area, was found deceased inside her residence. Her husband, Donald Thatcher, aged 73, was also present at the scene when the authorities arrived.

The circumstances surrounding Eleanor's death prompted an in-depth investigation by the authorities. Subsequently, the investigation led to the presentation of the case before a Grand Jury. On Thursday, July 20, 2023, the Grand Jury issued indictments against Donald Thatcher, charging him with both Manslaughter and Injury to an Elderly person. The seriousness of these indictments indicates the severity of the allegations brought against him.

Following the Grand Jury's decision, Donald Thatcher was taken into custody on Friday, July 21, 2023. He was arrested and later incarcerated in the Gray County Jail. The court set a bail of $1 million for each charge, underscoring the gravity of the charges.

As the investigation into the incident continues, the authorities are straightforwardly urging anyone with relevant information to step forward. As of now, the exact details surrounding the case that has been revealed to the public are relatively limited, but any additional information from the public will prove extremely useful in this case.