Shirley Tompkins - 1956 New Hanover High School

Shirley Ann (Tompkins) Spaulding was born to McCoy A Tompkins and Edna E. Tompkins and had sisters K Franes and Lonnie. According to the 1940s census, her parents McCoy A Tompkins (age 28) and Edna E Tompkins (age 23), Shirley (age 2), and her sisters K Franes (age 4), Lonnie (age 24), and aunt Lucy Tompkins (age 21) were living at 1914 Woolcott Avenue in Wilmington North Carolina and father McCoy was a contractor. On April 27 1975, Shirley Tompkins married James Alvin Crisp in Wilmington North Carolina, and they divorced seven years later on November 29th 1982. The following month, on December 28, 1982, Shirley Ann Campbell as she was known then, married Matthew Donald Spalding in Brunswick County North Carolina. They remained married until Matthew's murder on July 12th 1985. Matthew's body was found by sheriff's deputies in his barn that he used to house his horses. Nearly eighteen years later in April 2003, thanks in part to an un-named source, Shirley was arrested in connection to the murder of her husband. Newspapers at the time read: The death penalty may be sought for three defendants in connection with the 1985 “murder for hire” shooting of Matthew Donald Spaulding. Charged in April 2003, with first-degree murder in connection with the case are Mr. Spaulding’s wife at the time of his death, Shirley T. Spaulding, 65; Shirley Spaulding allegedly paid Mr. Strickland and Mr. Evans to commit the murder, The 65-year-old Winnabow woman pleaded guilty two weeks ago in Wake County Superior Court to second-degree murder in connection with the 1985 execution-style death of her husband, Matthew D. Spaulding. See Wife arrested in 18-year-old killing for more details. However, during incarceration in 2004, and suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, Shirley had a heart attack. While incarcerated Shirley had no health insurance, so her health care fees cost the state nearly $400,000 in medical expenses. Approximately $6,000 a week was spent on having a nurse available to constantly suction her airwaves "to keep her from downing in her own saliva". Judge William C. Gore Jr. who was presiding over the case said "The court cannot avoid the irony of the state's spending substantial sums of money on an alleged capital murderer in order to preserve her life so that the state might attempt later to take it after due process has been complied with" and so released Shirley. See Murder suspect free as health fails - Woman released without bail for more details. Shirley died on June 27th 2006 and has no burial or death information known.