Thomas P. Bird Biography Born June 1, 1950 Entered prison on August 30, 1984

Tom is the second of three children born to Rev. Ralph and Virginia Bird on June 1, 1950. Rev. Ralph Bird entered the ministry as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1947.

Tom graduated from Hall High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1968 where he played football and ran track and cross-country.  Tom met Sandra Stringer at Hall High School and they dated throughout college, marrying in 1972 in Little Rock.

Tom received a full scholarship as a track athlete from the University of Arkansas.  Tom and Sandy both graduated from UA.  Tom received his degree in sociology and Sandy received her degree in mathematics.  Sandy also earned a Master's Degree and began her teaching career.

Tom entered Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL following his gradation from UA.  Sandy continued to teach in the Springfield area.  Upon graduating from seminary, Tom served as a Missions Pastor to two churches in West Memphis, Arkansas as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod like his father.

The Birds had three children - Andrea, Paul and Aaron.

Tom received a call as a Missions Pastor to Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia, Kansas.  The Birds moved to Emporia in 1982.  His worked focused on building and growing a new church in the NW Emporia area, named Faith Lutheran Church.

Sandy taught at Emporia State University where she studied for a second
Master's Degree in Computer Mathematics. Tom took a second Master's Degree
from St. John's College, Winfield, Kansas.

In July, 1984 Tom was found guilty of trying to solicit someone to kill Marty Anderson, the husband of Lorna Anderson, the church secretary.  In 1990 a Geary County, Kansas jury found Tom not guilty of murdering Marty.

In July 1985 Tom was convicted of murdering his wife.  Tom is serving a life term for that conviction.  Murder Ordained, a fictionalized telling of the Tom Bird story, aired on CBS as a four hour mini-series in May 1987.  TNT currently owns the rights and airs it a few times a year.

In 1988, Tom married Terry Lyn Smith while in the Lansing Correctional Facility.  Terry Bird lives in Kansas City working as a school teacher and administrator.

Visit these pages as well: 

Tom's Current Status  The Caged Bird -  Thomas P. Bird  

Tom's Biography  [Rev.] Tom Bird's background

Contact Tom Bird With your questions and to offer support.

Help to Free Tom Bird.  Help Tom clear his good name.

Caged Bird, the story of this miscarriage of justice is for sale from Alethos Press.  

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