Keith Vernon Thomas, 53, was shot and killed on July 2, 2015, in Cottonwood, California, at a location in the Lake California community near the Country Store. He was with his daughter, Kimberlee Anne Thomas, 29, who was also fatally shot in the same incident. The shooter was identified as Kimberlee’s ex-husband, John Wayne Noonkester, who was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted premeditated murder related to a custody exchange involving Kimberlee’s two young daughters.

Prosecutors presented surveillance footage, text messages and other evidence during the trial to show premeditation; the defense argued Noonkester acted out of a belief he was protecting his children. In October 2017 a jury found Noonkester guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of Keith and Kimberlee.

Did anyone in the area know the Thomases or have information about the custody exchanges that led up to July 2, 2015?