Shivangi Sinha
In October 2011, Megan Neely was reported missing by her family after she failed to appear at a planned family event, which was unusual for her. Concerned for her safety, the police conducted a search of her residence but did not initially find anything suspicious. However, just a few days later, during a more thorough second search, Megan’s remains were found hidden in the crawl space of her home. Law enforcement immediately launched a detailed investigation to uncover who was behind the brutal act and what had led to her death. The case, along with the journey to find justice, was featured in ID’s ‘Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks’ episode titled ‘My Mind Goes to Murder.’
Megan Neely’s Remains Were Found in the Crawl Space of Her Apartment
Terri and Lamont Williams Neely welcomed Megan Sheree Neely on February 8, 1984. She was raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, along with her sister, Samantha. Known for her warm personality and generous spirit, Megan remained in her hometown as an adult, always radiating love, kindness, and positivity. She was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Iyanna and Leyna, who were the center of her world. With the strong support of her family, who frequently helped her raise her girls, she appeared to be in a stable and happy place in life. Around mid-2011, Megan began a relationship with a man named Corey Dean Thomas, who seemed to connect well with both her and her children. It felt like she was in a good place in her life. However, on October 15, 2011, her sister grew concerned when she couldn’t reach her.
Samantha had left her youngest daughter, just 14 months old, with their father, but never returned to pick her up. She wasn’t answering her phone and also missed a planned outing with Samantha and their children. Concerned for Megan’s safety, she contacted the police, and they conducted a search of her home on October 15 but initially found no trace of her. With Megan, 27, still missing and no leads, her family’s worry deepened. On October 17, the police returned to search her apartment a second time. During this search, they discovered her remains hidden in the crawl space. The medical examiner later determined that she had died from strangulation and estimated her time of death to be shortly before 2:45 pm on October 15.
Megan Neely’s Killer Had Been Arrested For Attacking His Ex-Girlfriend
The police began speaking with Megan Neely’s friends and family, and it was her sister, Samantha Neely, who pointed to a potential suspect. She revealed that Corey Thomas, Megan’s boyfriend, was a former convict with prior charges of assault and theft. His last known offense dated back to 2008, when he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Garcia, and threatened her with a box cutter in front of her family. He served a two-year sentence and was released in June 2011. Not long after, he met Megan and began a relationship with her. Samantha also shared that her sister had been considering ending things with him, but feared it wouldn’t be easy.
The police also interviewed Rodgerick Underwood, the father of Megan’s youngest daughter. He shared that he had spoken to Megan on the morning of October 16, and during their conversation, she said she wanted to rekindle their relationship and planned to end things with Corey. Rodgerick recalled her saying she “expected drama” and knew the breakup wouldn’t be smooth. Later that same day, the police spoke directly with Corey. He admitted that he and Megan had argued and that she had ended the relationship. He also answered a call from Megan’s sister using the latter’s phone, during which he said they had broken up, he was heading to Chicago, and he was taking back the phone he had given her.
The investigation revealed that on the morning of October 17, Corey sold his car to his brother and took a bus to Miami. Authorities were alerted, and on October 19, he was arrested near Miami International Airport for a parole violation. While police initially lacked enough evidence to charge him with murder, the case quickly came together. Corey had visible scratch marks on his neck, which he claimed were from work, but his manager denied any such incident. Crucially, DNA found under Megan’s fingernails matched his and led to him being formally charged with her murder.
Corey Dean Thomas is in Prison Today
In 2012, Corey Dean Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder with intent in connection with the death of Megan Neely. The court sentenced him to 34 years in prison, which he is currently serving at the Minnesota Correctional Facility–Stillwater, located in Bayport, Minnesota. During a later interview, Thomas reflected on the murder and said it felt as though something inside him “just switched.” He described the moment as one filled with rage and admitted that it overtook him, leading to the brutal act. Now 44 years old, he will be eligible for parole in 2034.
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