He joked that his murder trial was “fun” and he enjoyed being the “guest of honor,” according to the Newton County district attorney.
But his verdict and sentence were no laughing matter.
In October, in just over a half-hour, jurors convicted Marques Smith of the murders of Craig and Desiree Thomas, DA Randy McGinley said. On Friday, Smith was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without parole plus an 10 additional years, McGinley said.
After the four-day trial, Smith was found guilty of two counts each of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, plus cruelty to children and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On Sept. 11, 2022, Craig and Desiree went to Smith’s home on Pebble Lane, a few miles outside of Covington, to exchange custody of the children Desiree and Smith shared from a prior relationship, according to investigators. While the Thomases were still in the car with Desiree’s teenage daughter, Smith got a gun from his own vehicle.
“He returned to the victims’ vehicle, where he shot and killed Craig and Desiree in front of his own daughter,” the DA’s office said in a statement. “The defendant then fled the scene.”
The teen was not injured. Both Desiree, 33, and Craig, 29, died at the scene, police said following the shooting. The two had been married on March 1, 2022, according to his obituary. Desiree is survived by three children and Craig had one, their obituaries state.
Smith later arranged to turn himself in, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office said in the hours after the shooting.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Smith had reached out to a family member before the shooting attempting to get a gun. Jurors also heard about Smith’s 2017 aggravated battery conviction in Rockdale County for violence against Desiree, the DA’s office said.
During the trial, Smith made phone calls to family members, which were played for the jury. He said he wanted to laugh when he saw a photo from his 2017 case, McGinley said.
“A custody exchange of children that the defendant shared with Desiree made a horrific and tragic turn due to the decisions and actions of the defendant,” McGinley said Friday. “The defendant killed two young adults in cold blood. His selfish actions mean that three children will grow up without their parents.
“Thankfully, Craig’s and Desiree’s families will be there for these kids while the defendant spends the rest of his life in prison,” the DA said.
About the Author
