CONCORD, NH — A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the horrific murder of his mother, Linda Tufts, following an argument over a video game’s volume. Thomas Humphrey, 47, was sentenced by New Hampshire Superior Court Judge N. William Delker on Tuesday.
During the confrontation, Humphrey fatally stabbed his 70-year-old mother more than 20 times and nearly decapitated her. He also pleaded guilty to felony arson for burning his mother’s body after the murder. A suspended sentence of five to ten years, to be served consecutively with his life sentence, was also issued for the arson charge.
The brutality and nature of the crime were highlighted during the sentencing, with Judge Delker remarking on the exceptional gruesomeness of the murder. “This is, as I said, in my more than a decade on the bench, one of the most brutal murders that I’ve presided over,” Judge Delker stated, emphasizing the necessity of a lengthy prison term due to the dangerous nature of Humphrey’s actions.
The case has been a shocking episode, highlighting the extreme outcomes of domestic disputes. The community and legal system continue to process the severe implications of this tragic event.