Man Acquitted In Grandfather’s Death Now In Jail In Connection To Father’s Death

A Lincoln County man who was acquitted on manslaughter charges is back in jail for murder.

In 2019, investigators said he admitted to killing his grandfather; he's now accused of murdering his father.

Thomas Beeson was booked into the Pottawatomie County jail on murder and arson complaints in late April.

While the Department of Agriculture confirmed their investigation, along with the State Fire Marshal's Office, they have not released details.

“Evil, I knew there was something wrong with him,” said a friend of Beeson’s family.

A man who did not want to be identified told News 9 Thomas Beeson and his grandfather, Tommie, moved into a trailer on his property in 2019 after their home was destroyed in a fire in 2018.

That fire claimed the life of Rocky Beeson, Thomas' father.

“I heard his dad got his grandpa out, and went back in to get money and died of smoke inhalation,” said the man.

When his father died on property that’s since been sold, the man claimed Thomas wasn't far away.

“He was a mile down the road at a friend’s house,” said the man.

Seven months after Rocky's death, the man said he found Thomas' grandfather bleeding to death in his trailer.

911 call: Grandpa was drunk and grandson has been drinking and they got into an altercation and somebody got stabbed.

Investigators said Thomas Beeson stabbed his grandfather three times, and beat him over the head with cans of food.

Court documents showed when asked why he did it Thomas responded, "I was just mad I guess."

According to new court filings, while awaiting trial for his grandfather's death, Thomas set fire to the Lincoln County jail. In 2021, he was acquitted of manslaughter.

While Rocky's 2019 death was ruled accidental, Thomas is now being held in the Pottawatomie County jail on a complaint of murder in connection to his death.

A man who spoke to News 9 said he ran Thomas off his property after he returned from jail.

“He showed up here when he got out of jail and I told him he wasn’t welcome here,” said the man.

According to court filings, Beeson set fire to the Lincoln County jail in an attempt to make ink for tattoos.

A court date has yet to be set.