A killer's homecoming

Relatives of a slain Pike County, Ind., couple are preparing for a day they were promised they'd never see.

On Thursday, Richard Dillon — one of two men convicted of killing William Hilborn, 72, and his wife, Mary, 65 — will be released from the Indiana Department of Correction.

VINCENT PUGLIESE / Courier & Press
Mary Woodall, whose mother, Mary Hilborn, was killed in 1981, discusses her feelings about the release from prison of Richard Dillon, who was convicted of killing Hilborn and her husband, William. In the background of the photograph is Betty Decker, also a daughter of Hilborn.


Jay R. Thompson, 43, was Richard Dillon's accomplice. He was 17 at the time of the killings, but his case was moved to adult court.

He was convicted of murder in 1983 and sentenced to death.

In overturning Thompson's death sentence, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled the judge had given the jury the wrong instructions.

His sentence was commuted to a 120-year prison term. He was sentenced to another four years after the killing of a fellow inmate.

Although he is not scheduled for release until 2045, Thompson recently filed a petition for post-conviction relief. Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald is preparing for the possibility of a new trial in the case. He has hired a private investigator to track down original witnesses and has asked the Indiana State Police crime lab to reprocess blood evidence from the original trial for DNA, for which technology was not available in the early 1980s.

Currently held at the Wabash Valley Level 3 facility in Carlisle, Ind., Thompson earns $368.81 per month working for Pen Products, a prison business that manufactures items from office furniture to inmate uniforms.

News of his release has come as a shock to many in the community: For decades, the Hilborns' family members have found comfort in the assurance the killers would never go free.

"Even after their death penalty sentences were overturned, we were still told they'd never get out of prison," one of Mary Hilborn's grandsons, Rick Evans, said.

Dillon, now 44, was 18 when he was convicted in the March 8, 1981, deaths. He was originally sentenced to death.

The day they were murdered, the Hilborns arrived home from church and turned on the television, unaware that two teen-age burglars — Dillon and Jay R. Thompson — were hiding in the bathroom, knives in hand.

The Hilborns' bodies were discovered the next morning. Each had been stabbed multiple times. Dillon and Thompson were arrested days later.

Dillon was sentenced to death in August 1981, but the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled he was inadequately represented by his attorney. His death sentence overturned, Dillon received a 60-year sentence.

Now, with good time accounted for, he will be released Thursday from the Indianapolis Men's Work Release Center.

It's a reality that relatives of the Hilborns have found hard to grasp.

Tom McCrary, Mary Hilborn's son, said past appeals and now Dillon's release make the killings seem new again.

He and family members gathered this week at the Petersburg, Ind., home of one of Mary Hilborn's granddaughters, Sharon Cannon, to talk about the case.

Cannon lives just down the road from where the couple were murdered. Her relatives flipped through a scrapbook chronicling the decades of appeals and case proceedings since the murders.

The Hilborns had been married about five years when they died. William Hilborn's relatives are thought to be living in Utah now.

Mary Hilborn's children and grandchildren are scattered throughout Pike, Dubois and Knox counties — but all said they feel those counties are small and close enough that it is likely they'll run into Dillon.

"I am worried about bumping into him in the grocery store," Cannon said. "It is a small community."

Dillon's freedom will be especially challenging for Mary Woodall, one of Mary Hilborn's daughters. Woodall's daughter married Dillon's cousin.

"They had the nerve to invite me to a cookout for him a month ago," Woodall said. She explained that for at least one month, Dillon has been allowed to visit his relatives in nearby Hazelton, Ind., as part of his transition back into life outside of prison.

Another of Mary Hilborn's children, Betty Decker, recalls the day she went to the prosecutor and asked him to do whatever was necessary to end the appeals.

"With every appeal, we had to relive it all," Decker said, explaining she's suffered emotional problems since the murders.

She never thought Dillon would get out.

"It really bothers me," she said. "I hate to see him get out."

Cannon said she and relatives received another crushing blow this month when they learned Dillon petitioned for and was granted permission to serve his probation in the Evansville area.

Cannon had previously received a letter from the state informing her Dillon would be serve his probation in the Columbus, Ind., area. She called state officials to express her concern about Dillon's return.

"They said it is their policy to send inmates where they will have a support system," she said. "In this case, Richard will be able to live with his parents, and there is nothing we can do. He is coming back and there is nothing we can do."

VINCENT PUGLIESE / Courier & Press
Sharon Cannon and Rick Evans, two of Mary Hilborn's grandchildren, discuss the murders of William and Mary Hilborn in Petersburg, Ind., in 1981 and the impending release of Richard Dillon, who, along with Jay R. Thompson, was convicted of the crime.


Cannon asked state officials if she could petition to have Dillon moved further away at least for the duration of his yearlong probation.

"They said 'no,'" Cannon said. "Our hands are tied. There is nothing we can do. If I could tell (Dillon) something it would be that hopefully, you can go on with your life and we can go on with ours."

"Victims have no rights," she said.

Dillon has turned down requests for an interview, but Jim Hendrix, superintendent of the Indianapolis Men's Work Release Center, previously said Dillon has been compliant and has done well transitioning into the community.

While in prison, Dillon reportedly earned a degree to be a paralegal.

"I'm paying back student loans and my grandma's killer got a free ride," Cannon said.

"We just want people to know he is going to be free now," Cannon said. "It isn't right. It is just so wrong."

"The system messed up bad here," Cannon said. "When you can kill two people and be out in 20-some years. It's not right."


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Comments » 73

respectothers writes:

It is so so so so sad that the truth is that victims have very little rights; I am assuming it is this way because too many of our leaders and decision makers have not been victims.

molady#135668 writes:

The system has failed the victims once again...
This man doesn't deserve another chance, two people died at his greedy hands.
How does he live with that...

bluegras#198258 writes:

poltergeist ! this killer earned a degree ? whom paid for that ! this whole story aint right !
he should have been knifed to death by wild baboons years ago, not harbored and educated for release.....
shame on our system......
eye for an eye, tooth for tooth,, he should not be allowed back into anything except a casket....
reformed ? educated? and released? guess he will get a job at the county courthouse.....
cause now he has to eat, and survive in the land he murdered in....
what a resume, he will present later ......when he becomes a payed paralegal......

JDavid (Inactive) writes:

He will probably hurt some one else sooner or later...just wait.

tspo writes:

Indiana's 50% rule is ridiculous. Missouri requires felons like this to serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence. The only garantee the state could have offered that no other innocent people would suffer under this killer was to keep him locked up until he died.

taterman writes:

or executed him according to the original sentence.

ms101831#163949 writes:

He will get food stamps and medicaid. We (and the Hilborns) will continue to pay for his crime.

To the Hilborn family,
Hang in there, you are about to face something the rest of us will never have to endure.Good luck.

ms101831#163949 writes:

Where is Thompson?

railroaded47714 writes:

My heart goes out to the families because their pain is revisited with this man being released from prison. Please remember that even though man's laws don't seem to have prevailed that this man will one day have to stand before the ultimate judge and jury. If we are to be more like Christ, then forgiveness must be forthcoming. Yes, what he did all those years ago was wrong, but why burden your heart with all that bitterness? It would be better served in prayer for this man for his continued reform. An easy task? No. But no one ever said that following in the footsteps of Christ was always going to be an easy one. God's Blessings to you all.

doplus writes:

I know the feeling. My sister was murderd in 1990 and he is out on the streets today. Suppose to serve seventy years only served 14. Got out in 2004.. So So sad..

cinderbell writes:

What a justice system??This is a disgrace!!
The killer of two people, who were not even safe in their own home is going free.But,the death sentence still applies to them.
I hope and pray that this man has changed.If not??
he will kill again.
There is something wrong with the world we live in.
Killers have more rights then the victims!!!
To the family......stay strong.Their punishment will not come here.
God Bless.....

Sowers63 writes:

Has anyone gave any thought to the fact that this man may very well have turned his life around? He was supposed to serve life but they did overturn his sentence for one reason or another. It is not up to us to question this. One day he will answer to a HIGHER POWER for his crimes and only then will he be judged the correct way and be doomed either to a life of total damnnation or eternal bliss. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the vitims. I know this must be hard on them.

JJ9000 writes:

No one wants justice, we all should want mercy. We will all stand in front of our maker and have to give an account of all the things we have done. prepare your hearts now and forgive those that have done you wrong. For all have sinned.

scarlett1too#28038 writes:

I'm wondering if all those that speak of forgiveness and that this man may have turned his life around would feel the same if it were there parents or loved ones that were brutally murdered? It is insane that a death penalty turned into less than a 30 year sentence. Why should this man be free to have a life when he took that from two others?

calton#159230 writes:

What about Jay R. Thompson? When does he get out, or is he already?

legallyarmedcitizen writes:

I know what you are saying hardnose3, they need to change the name to Indiana Department of Detention", I work for a jail and I wish I had a dollar for every dirt bag that was back in jail after being released from DOC, I wish we had some prosecutors that had enough balls to file habitual felony offender charges on these pieces of crap, I have seen people come into our jail with 15+ felony convictions on their record. One thing I will say that DOC is doing is revoking parole for people who commit even B and C misdemeanors.

dmwilmes1#37117 writes:

Jay R THompson is in the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. He has murdered while in prison, so he will not get out until 2042. However, he is asking for a new trial also.

tbrown68#146261 writes:

dmwilmes1: I am sorry your post confused me. Do you mean he committed a murder while in prison?

dgroves writes:

In my opinion if you take a life, you should give yours. Of course this is not in all cases such as self defense, etc. Eye for an eye. I would kill if someone is trying to harm my family. Simply put. That would be the only time because property can be replaced, name calling will stop, etc.

In addition, the 50% rule is stupid. I think we should go back to the chain gain affect. Make the work themselves silly breaking up rocks etc to burn that extra energy. They will be too tired to do anything else. Granted I know this is not realistic but it does not hurt to dream.

millermom writes:

WHOA!!! Sowers63. He may have turned his life around but the fact remains he was convicted for taking part in the murder of two people. It is very much up to us to question his release. It is also very much up to us to show how displeased we are (you know free country). We are the people who elected the officials that set him free. If we don't question these officials it will continue. We need to remember cases like this everytime we vote.

ms101831#163949 writes:

well that figures

Warden writes:

I agree, if WE don't question these silly judicial decisions - WHO WILL?? If WE don't stand up for what is right- WHO WILL?? If WE don't seek to change 'the system' - WHO WILL??
I am all for Christian charity. I am all for forgiveness. What I am NOT FOR is the victims' rights and opinions counting for nothing.
IF we must allow some murderer out - DON'T place him where he got into trouble - support system or not. DON'T place him where he did his dirty deeds, put him somewhere they won't know who he is so they won't be on guard against him. Wait a minute - what am I saying? Should we do something like that? Have him a wolf in sheep's clothing? Or put him where we MAY suspect he will do something bad?
I am all for murderers getting a mandatory sentence. If it isn't self-defense, how about 30 years. MUST BE SERVED IN FULL, before any probation is considered.

mamacliff#191810 writes:

This type of "justice" is heard every day in the news and on the law shows. Unfortunately, victims' rights do seem to be overshadowed by the defendant's rights, unfair, but true. What can we, as a society do about it? I can only hope our future generations can maybe turn this around. My thoughts and sympathies are with these families.

aramis94#127431 writes:

I hear everyone complaining about this injustice and an injustice it truly is. However, I would like to know if anyone on here is taking action, or are you just complaining? When was the last time anyone has called, or mailed complaints to our governor, or state representatives to speak out about this nonsense? We need to start bombarding the governor's office, our state representatives, the judges, and prosecutors with complaints, then maybe we won't have to constantly read about stories like this. If this can become a campaign issue, maybe something will change.

ktandnl1#213399 writes:

My sympathy goes out to all of the families involved. I thought that a person was supposed to get 25 years to life for one murder, not two. What was wrong with this picture? I think the Hillborn family was jipped approximately 25 more years of peace and comfort in knowing there mother's and step-father's murderer was paying his dues.

myopinioncounts writes:

My prayers go out to the family, however experience has shown me that forgiveness truly does bring peace, not vengeance. And perhaps I'm naive, but it is possible that an 18 year old made a horrible decision and has lived with the consequences for 26 years and will live with the knowledge of what he has done forever. But could this person be trying to rehabilitate himself. Who are we to cast so much judgement? There is only one that knows all of the facts and I dare say it is not us.

WeR77 writes:

Welcome home Mr. Dillon...welcome home.......LOW LIFE KILLER.

WeR77 writes:

myopinioncounts- I hope you're right, but don't hold your breath. At 18, I am pretty sure he learned a lot of new tricks while in prison.

Get_A_Clue writes:

Does anyone know why he recieved a 60 year sentence on two murder convictions?

Murder carries a sentencing range of 40-60 years, which was also true at the time Dillon was convicted. Therefore, the minimum sentence for two counts of murder is 80 years. Theoretically, the court could have maxed Dillon with 60 years on each murder & then run them concurrently. However, given that the trial court approved the jury's recommendation of the death penalty, this is highly unlikely.

whatsayu writes:

Like they say all across this country (and I've heard it myself).."If you want to get away with a murder, go to Evansville Indiana." And, that was said on the Tonight show several years ago as a joke! Ain't we just sooooooo proud here!

Local_Hoosier writes:

Welcome to the "Warm and Fuzzy" America. Where criminals are just "misunderstood" and deserve another chance. Bull hockey. They should have been put to death for this horrible crime.

I'm sure he'll be a model citizen since his rehabilitation.

Another loser we taxpayers have to support that will surely commit another terrible crime while free.

Eye for an eye.

wi_hoosier writes:


let me answer for wilmes. yes he committed another murder while in prison. i read that in the indy star about a month ago when this story first started surfacing.

here is a link:

Eccentric writes:

My heart goes out to the victims, because I know this will be hard for you, seeing as this person is coming back to your community. Placement of a paroled offender lies with the Indiana Parole Board, not with the prosecutor or the Indiana Dept. of Correction. I know of a case where the victims requested that the parole board not allow the offender to parole to their community, due to the hardship it would cause, and they granted it and made the offender parole to a halfway house in another county. I am sure if they had the members of their community sign a petition and send it to the parole board, that they would get the relief they wanted.
As for why this man got only 60 years, the victims and people of that community should already know; since once the Appeals Court overturned the death sentence - it would have sent the case back to the trial court for resentencing, which the victims would have attended. For them say they thought he would never get out is not being realistic, once he was sentenced to 60 years, which means 30 years if he stayed out of trouble.
I personally feel that someone who commits cold blooded murder should suffer the same fate. But if this man has truely changed, he may never commit another crime again (we can only hope). Usually those people that end back up in prison time and time again, are those convicted of crimes where they spent less than 10 years in prison. Those who spent decades in prison do not normally reoffend so fast.

nikolives writes:

I don't know if anyone knows this, but inmates are responsible for providing their own funds for college education. Usually with a felony, you can't get a loan, so he probably worked for it. At least he isn't going back into society as a drug dealer or hit man...

mikey#51059 writes:

The legal system in this country is beyond repair!
I'm sure our forefathers are turning in their graves with the injustice that prevails throughout our so called judicial system. Maybe we need to learn from the middle east and inflict real punishment on criminals. I will bet crime would drop dramitically in a matter of months. Oh wait! I forgot that the criminal does have more right than their victims here...wishful thinking!

mypov writes:

I know I am going to catch slack for this comment...but he was 18. People can change and do...furthermore he has fulfilled his obligation as required by our justice system. I hope the family can not give him a chance but find a way to live peacefully with the situation.

nuffsaidgranny writes:

nikolives...You said at least he isn't going back into society as a drug dealer or hit man...Did you mean to leave off the word "YET"?? Also, where did you purchase your crystal ball?? I want one, too...

kmalongway3#137142 writes:

all u people on here why dont u goto the higher power people and voice ur comments,or u dont really care just to talk on here?

dmwilmes1#37117 writes:

You've got to be kidding me. You think he has changed? Do child molesters change? Do you want them living in your neighborhood? A murderer is a murderer. He will be living within a mile of me. Oh and for the one that said he paid for his education.... WRONG! WE DID. I am paying off my student loans and this MURDERER recieved his degree on my money while I worked and went to college. The family petitioned everyone from the Governor (what a joke, hope he gets voted out) to the commissioner of the DOC and our hands are tied. The only thing I can hope for is that the next time he murders it isn't one of your family members or someone you are close to!

revans64 writes:

To those who offered Sympathy and Prayers to the family, Thank you. To the Others, ours prayers go out to you. Has Dillon changed? We do not know. Time now will tell. It is Jesus that knows who we are. We as a family of the victims do not wish revenge. We do wish him well in the future.

For some of the commentors,It is obvious that you have not had to experience this sort of devastation in your family. It is very painful knowing your mother/grandmother is murdered, then being shown pictures time and time again in court to prosecute the slayers, is absolutely indescribable.

The quote from Paul Harvey was "If you want to get away with a murder, go to Pike County, Indiana". The comment was made in the late 1980's, After several unsolved murders.

ekeller#214140 writes:

You are all acting like this is something new or novel. I think you would all be AMAZED at how many convicted murderers are free and walking our streets, working in our restaurants, vistiting our bars, dating our relatives...in other words, living amongst us.

nuffsaidgranny writes:

revans64...You and your family have my deepest sympathy...Maybe you think my posts have been aomewhat caustic, but I can still see a beautiful young lady and her perfectly formed 7 month term beautiful baby son lying in her arms in a casket...This was my niece, my brothers only child, his first & only grandchild...Her husband lost control during an argument...He not only cut _____'s throat, he then cut the child from her womb, then buried them both...This was January, 1975...When he was paroled it was hush-hush...No one knew until he had already been released because feelings still ran so high...I don't know where he is today, but I know where I hope he is. This killed my brother, too..He never got over it...

nuffsaidgranny writes:

Good question...I guess I can only pray no one makes him angry...

catfan9 writes:

Thanks for all the sympathy extended to my family. We only want to get on with our lives and wish for him to also. (just wish he wasn't doing it so close to all of us).
I'm sure he won't do anything to go back there after all the years he spent there.

pressanykey writes:

Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That is what was promised.

So if everyone on this thread is in agreement that this murderer should never get out of prison, why is he getting out?

johnjrs477#34501 writes:

It is interesting that this posting is running fourth to less significant stories such as the KY boob doctor, the civil liberties issue of killing yourself in the back of a pickup truck while exercising poor judgement, and response to the resignation of a high level minority appointee.
This shift in values shows that Pike County is no longer your grandfather's Pike County. Less than 50 years ago, scab workers were in danger of their lives for crossing picket lines to work in Union mines on strike. Less than 100 years ago, neighbor feuds sometimes ended in axe killings, never solved. The modern, kinder and gentler Pike County will likely welcome the "rehabilitated" Richard Dillon with open arms.

nuffsaidgranny writes:

Because the justice system WORKED for HIM...Can we altogether now say SURPRISE !!!!???

mikey#51059 writes:

Well said johnjrs477! When I was over in Iraq the local police caught an American soldier stealing from a market place and wanted to cut his hand off. I believe the military police got him out of it. They should have let them at least take a finger!

Eccentric writes:

"pressanykey" - the man is getting out because he has served his time. The man was sentenced to 60 years, by the court. Under Indiana law, he gets a day credit for every day he serves, as long as he stays out of trouble. This means he really has a 30 year sentence, unless he acts up. 60 years is the maximum sentence for a Class A felony, I think, unless it has been changed. What I am wondering is how he got 60 years, if he was convicted of 2 murders. It should have been 120 years in prison then, not 60. So apparently something happened to where his sentences was ran togather or something was dropped. We can rant and rave about how the system has failed here, but the fact remains that the only reason he is getting out is because he has served his time given to him, and we cannot start keeping people in prison past their sentences or we are no better than those abroad who hate us. For those who say that other states make offenders do 85% of thier sentences, etc., you must also remember that those sentences are shorter also. Personally, I feel this crime deserved death as a penalty or natural life in prison. Why he was only sentenced to 60 years (actually 30), is a mystery only the victim's family and those who attended the second sentencing hearing know. Anyone who knows why and was actually there, please enlighten us...

fhc76 writes:

Who will be his next victim(s)?. This is really scary!
