Man gets life for canyon shooting

Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999 | 10:33 a.m.

Carson District Judge Michael Griffin handed down the sentence Friday to Roy Thrasher, who earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

Thrasher will have to spend the rest of his life in prison for the shooting death of Jerry Hobson II in Goni Canyon on the north end of Carson City.

Thrasher's brother, Danny Harper, earlier drew a similar sentence in the case.

The brothers talked Hobson into going for a ride with them on the pretense of smoking marijuana and loaning him money, then fatally shot him in the canyon, investigators said.

"This case is the most inexplicable killing I've ever seen," Griffin said. "There is no element of passion; no element of motive. It is a remorseless, inexplicable murder."

The victim's parents attended every hearing in the case. The defendants' father, Lou Boyer, attended most hearings.

"(The Hobsons) lost a son and I'm sorry for that," Boyer said after the sentencing. "Now I've got two sons who might as well be dead because they ain't never getting out of prison.

"They lost one son and (the judge) just took both of mine away. The whole thing is senseless. I think the only ones who are completely satisfied with this is (the victim's) family."