Suspect arrested in 1990 child homicide case

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (FOX 11) - Police have arrested a suspect in a nearly 30-year-old homicide case out of the city of Inglewood.

Edward Donell Thomas, 50, of Pomona was arrested on Feb. 14 for the killing of 11-year-old William Tillett.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney charged Thomas with one count of murder as well as "special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a kidnapping and lying in wait." The charge makes Thomas eligible for the death penalty. He also faces one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

On May 24, 1990, at about 3 p.m., William was kidnapped while walking home from school in the area of Imperial Highway and Crenshaw Boulevard. His body was found a day later in a residential neighborhood in Hawthorne.

Inglewood police say Thomas was identified as the suspect in the homicide investigation and was booked into Inglewood City Jail after his arrest.

Thomas is being held without bail. His arraignment was continued to April 4, 2019.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide investigation is asked to contact Inglewood Police Department homicide detective Han or Oppelt at 310-412-5246.