James Bulger‘s killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, kidnapped and tortured the toddler to death in February 1993. The two 10-year-olds, Thompson and Venables, abducted Bulger from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside. The Mirror reported that the two boys tortured and murdered the two-year-old. After killing the victim, they left his mutilated body to rot by a railway line.
The horrific killing resulted in Thompson and Venables’ convictions as the judge described the act as “unparalleled evil and barbarity.” They both served time in a young offenders institute until their release in 2001. Upon their release, the two teens received new identities under the protection of a worldwide injunction.
Venables has been in and out of prison and is currently in lockup for possessing child abuse images, as per The Sun. Meanwhile, Thompson has not re-offended since his release on license. Moreover, his identity remains protected under the worldwide injunction.
What happened to James Bulger’s killers after release from prison?
Wales Online stated that James Bulger’s killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, faced conviction for kidnapping and murdering the toddler. The duo was both just ten years old at the time of the crime in 1993 when they murdered the two-year-old. Despite receiving life sentences for the heinous crime, they were released on license with new identities in June 2001. Both were reportedly 18 at the time of their release.
The outlet reported that since then, Jon Venables has re-offended twice. He went back to prison in 2010 and once again in 2017 for the possession of child sex abuse images. However, on December 13, 2023, he faced an appeal to determine his release from jail.
An Economic Times report confirmed that he will remain in prison as the Parole Board rejected his appeal for release. Following a two-day closed-door hearing, a panel made the decision, citing some major concerns. These included concerns regarding public safety as well as the 41-year-old’s ability to be open with professionals. The parole board stated, “The panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.”
Elsewhere, Robert Thompson, who is likely 36 years old now, has not re-offended since his 2001 release on license. The Mirror reported that he faced accusations of being the ringleader and leading Venables in the November 1993 trial.
Detective Phil Roberts said in a 2018 ITV documentary that he believes “Thompson was in charge, but they both attacked James.” He called the duo “a match made in hell” and “a freak of nature.” The detective alleged that “they went out that day to kill” and believes that they “would have struck again” if not caught.
The outlet reported that James Bulger’s killers were barred from entering Liverpool. Moreover, reports alleged that Thompson has settled down and is in a long-term relationship with a man. Some sources also believe that his partner knows his true identity.
A Channel 5 documentary, titled James Bulger: The New Revelations, revealed Thompson’s statement to his 2001 release parole board. In the statement, the killer claimed to be a better person. He stated, “I am now a better person and have had a better life and a better education than if I had not committed the murder.”
Thompson also denied claims that they sexually assaulted Bulger before murdering him. He alleged that he only “became aware Jon Venables had a little boy with him” when they left the shopping center. He further said, “I very much regret that I did nothing to stop it at this time.”
Several documentaries, including Unforgiven: The Boys Who Killed James Bulger, have previously revisited the case.
