Teresa Thompson is a woman from Ingleside, Texas, who had a tragic and complicated life. She was the mother of Anthony Templet, who shot and killed his father, Burt Templet, in 2019, when he was 17 years old. Teresa had been looking for Anthony for more than a decade, after Burt allegedly kidnapped him from her when he was just 5 years old. She finally reunited with her son after he was arrested for the murder of his father. This is her story.
A Violent Relationship
Teresa Thompson met Burt Templet when she worked at a crab shack in Ingleside, Texas. She was going through a divorce and raising two kids, aged 9 and 12. The two hit it off, and after a few months, Burt asked her to move to Houston, Texas, with him. But soon after, the relationship took a dark turn.
According to Teresa, Burt was a cocaine user and a controlling and abusive partner. He would regularly beat her, even when she was pregnant with Anthony. He also isolated her from her family and friends, and prevented her from working or going to school. Teresa said she stayed with him mostly out of fear, and hoped that he would change.
A Missing Son
In 2002, Burt beat Teresa up and then took off with Anthony, who was only seven months old at the time. Teresa reported the incident to the police, but Burt was never arrested or charged. Teresa said she tried to get her son back, but Burt had disappeared with him. She suspected that he had taken him to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where his parents lived.
In 2007, Teresa went to court and obtained custody of Anthony, but by then, Burt had filed a suit of his own, claiming that Teresa was crazy and lied about the abuse. He was granted temporary custody of Anthony, and Teresa never saw him again. She said she spent years searching for him, making missing person posters, and hiring private investigators, but to no avail.
A Shocking Reunion
It wasn’t until June 2019 that Teresa received a phone call from Louisiana that changed her life. She learned that Anthony had shot and killed his father, Burt, at their home in Baton Rouge, and that he was in jail. Anthony had called 911 and confessed to the shooting, saying that he had killed his dad during an argument. He also told the police that his father had physically and mentally abused him for years, and that he had never gone to school or had any friends.
Teresa was shocked and devastated, but also relieved to finally find her son. She flew to Louisiana and met him for the first time in 11 years. She said she hugged him and told him that she loved him and that she had never stopped looking for him. She also said that she wanted to be at least a friend to him, because she felt that they could never have a normal mother-son relationship.
A Legal Battle
Anthony’s case attracted a lot of media attention, and was featured in a Netflix docuseries called “I Just Killed My Dad”. The series explored the complex question of whether Anthony’s shooting was justified, or whether he was a cold-blooded killer. It also revealed the details of Anthony’s life with his father, which was described as a “prison” by some of his acquaintances.
Anthony was charged with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence in Louisiana. His defense team argued that he acted in self-defense, and that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and battered child syndrome. They also presented evidence of Burt’s history of violence and drug use, and of Anthony’s lack of education and socialization.
The prosecution, however, argued that Anthony was not in imminent danger when he shot his father, and that he showed no signs of remorse or empathy. They also questioned Teresa’s credibility, and suggested that she had abandoned Anthony and lied about the abuse. They also pointed out that Anthony had shot his father three times, including once in the back of the head.
The trial was scheduled to begin in March 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of February 2024, Anthony is still awaiting trial, and is being held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Teresa said she visits him regularly, and hopes that he will be freed and have a chance to live a normal life.
A Mother’s Love
Teresa Thompson is a woman who has endured a lot of pain and loss in her life. She lost her son to a man who abused her and him, and then she lost him again to a system that accused him of murder. She said she still loves Anthony, and believes that he is not a monster, but a victim of his father’s cruelty. She said she wants to help him heal, and to give him the love and support that he never had. She said she is proud of him for surviving, and for being brave enough to tell his story. She said she is his mother, and she will never give up on him.
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