The Murder of Chelsea Thompson
On November 10, 2021, Henry Lannon tortured and killed Chelsea Thompson, 30. Lannon told a friend he believed Chelsea had stolen and was planning on stealing from him again.
Chelsea Nicole Thompson
Chelsea Nicole Thompson was born to Robert Thompson and Rhonda Bell on December 23, 1990. Chelsea had two younger siblings, Shelby and Austin. She was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Baldwin High School and continued to study at Concorde School for Dental Assistance.
Chelsea had two daughters, and a huge family who adored her. Her family described her as having a “sweet and fighting personality.”
After doctors pronounced Chelsea dead, her kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, intestines, and pancreas were donated to others. Chelsea saved multiple lives with her organ donation.
Background
Chelsea Thompson and Henry Lannon were friends. On November 10, 2021, Chelsea had been at Lannon’s house, where he lived with his mother, Jenean Lannon. They had been arguing for most of the day, according to Jenean.
Henry Lannon thought Chelsea had stolen from him before. Lannon believed Chelsea would pretend to be incoherent, so she would be left alone in his house, enabling her to steal. On November 10, 2021, Lannon believed Chelsea was attempting to use this alleged ruse again, which angered him.
The Murder
Lannon hit Chelsea and tied her up. He would admit to a friend that he waterboarded her and smothered her with a pillow. Chelsea was left tied up, begging for her life. Wanting her to stop making noise, Lannon would continue to torture her.
Jenean told officers she saw Chelsea lying on the living room floor, unresponsive, with her ankles tied together. She attempted CPR on Chelsea, but it did not revive her. Jenean and Lannon placed her in Jenean’s car.
Jenean drove Chelsea Thompson to a nearby fire station for help. The firefighters brought Chelsea to the hospital, where she was admitted into the ICU in critical condition. Chelsea was unresponsive and had injuries that made it obvious she had been beaten. Both arms and legs had bruising on them. Her left eye and the left side of her face were swollen, there was blood coming out of her ear, and her left hand was also swollen. Bruising on her ankles and wrist signified she had been bound. The doctors determined she had a fractured vertebra. Chelsea would succumb to her wounds the same day. The medical examiner noted that Chelsea’s brain was swollen, there was visible petechia, and her throat and had bruise marks.
Henry Lannon had fled the scene and went to a friend’s house in St. Mary’s, Florida. He told the friend, who was identified as Jimmy Call, that he thought he may have killed someone and was in a lot of trouble. He told Jimmy he had to burn a few items in his yard. Jimmy called the police on November 16, 2021, and reported what Lannon had told him.
Arrest
Henry Lannon was arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated battery, resisting arrest, and trafficking amphetamine or methamphetamine. Prosecutors have not charged him with Chelsea’s murder. Lannon has a court date scheduled for June 16, 2022.