Man accused of murdering Benton woman in ‘targeted’ attack in March surrenders to authorities

A man accused of murdering a Marshall County woman in March has turned himself in to authorities.

As K105 previously reported, the body of 49-year-old Lia M. Thompson, of Benton, was found at her residence by the Benton Police Department on Wednesday afternoon March 19, 2025, at approximately 2:00.

State police said at the time that Thompson “was located deceased inside her residence with injuries indicating foul play.”

State police later stated: “At this time, Thompson’s murder is believed to have been a targeted incident, indicating that there is not an ongoing threat to the general public.”

On Friday, KSP announced that they were searching for 48-year-old Claude E. Russell, of Cadiz, following a Marshall County Grand Jury indicting Russell for Thompson’s murder.

Later on Friday, Russell surrendered at the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with murder and lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center.

(Photo l-r: Lia M. Thompson, courtesy of Collier Funeral Home; Claude E. Russell)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com