Doncaster killer of man whose body was never found took own life in jail

A Doncaster murderer who killed a man whose body was never found was found hanged in his jail cell - with illicit drugs in his system, a newly published report into his death has found.

Jason Thaxter, 46, was serving a 30-year jail term at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, when he died on 15 August, 2023.

In 2016 Thaxter was convicted of Thomas Groome's murder and conspiracy to prevent his burial.

The 54-year-old Irish man was last seen on New Year's Day morning in 2010 as he left his son's house in Thorne, South Yorkshire.

His family thought he had gone to Portugal but reported him missing when they could not contact him.

Mr Groome's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person's inquiry but a murder investigation was launched in 2012.

Thaxter and his mother, June Buttle, were arrested a year later.

Buttle was charged in 2014 but there was insufficient evidence to charge her son at the time.

She pleaded guilty to manslaughter, conspiracy to prevent a burial and fraud charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison the following year.

Mr Groome's body has never been found.

A newly released report issued by Prisons and Probations Ombudsman Adrian Usher said: “I have concluded that Mr Thaxter gave no obvious indication to staff that he was at risk of suicide.

“However, in the months leading up to his death, Mr Thaxter spent frequent periods of the day confined to his cell due to the restricted regime in place at Whitemoor.

“Both illicit drugs and medication which had not been prescribed to him were found in Mr Thaxter’s system after he died.

“Officers arrived at Mr Thaxter’s cell to give him his lunch. Mr Thaxter was suspended by a ligature made from a shoelace from his window bars.”

“Toxicological analysis of post-mortem blood showed evidence of recent use of the psychoactive substance spice.”

The inquest into Mr Thaxter’s death finished on 5 November 2025 and it concluded that Thaxter died as a result of suicide.