Former FBI agent shares inside story of serial killer Thomas Dillon’s arrest

The Cadiz Puskarich Library hosted a lecture Thursday, Sept. 25, featuring former FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas, who spoke about his book series "Dark Places" and the cases that defined his career.

Trombitas shared stories from his decades of service, including encounters with high-profile criminals such as Frank Abagnale, the con artist whose exploits inspired the book and movie "Catch Me If You Can." He also recounted grim cases involving kidnappings and murders.

The story that drew the most attention from the crowded room was Trombitas’ account of serial killer Thomas Dillon, who terrorized southeastern Ohio from 1989 through 1992. Trombitas was among the agents who arrested Dillon outside a Dairy Mart near his home.

Agents had previously followed Dillon into a Cleveland gun show, where he purchased a firearm in violation of his probation for an earlier conviction involving an illegal silencer. That violation became key to securing a warrant and building the case against him.

"A lot of times these serial killers and that, when they are in the heat of the moment, when they actually get ready to kill somebody … their emotions are sky high," Trombitas said. "They’re like off the walls excited."

He explained that the plan was to confront Dillon with overwhelming evidence in hopes of provoking an incriminating statement. When agents first approached him outside the Dairy Mart, the exchange was calm. But when Trombitas introduced himself and identified a member of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, Dillon was visibly stunned.

"We’d like to talk to you about something that we think you’d be very interested in," Trombitas recalled telling him. "You should have seen Dillon’s jaw, it just about hit the floor."

Shortly after, Dillon asked to speak with a lawyer, at which point he was arrested and taken to the Stark County jail.

Trombitas described Dillon as a "normal" person who didn’t act erratically. He recounted how he pressed Dillon during questioning: "Come on Tom, you know you’re responsible for this. We know you’re responsible and I’m really, really working on him. And he stops and he goes, ‘It would serve no purpose for me to say anything at this point.’"

That line, Trombitas said, matched a statement Dillon had anonymously sent to the "Times Leader" in Martins Ferry, confirming his guilt in Trombitas’ mind.

"When I heard that I knew a hundred percent that Tom Dillon was our man because he said exactly what was in that letter," Trombitas said.

Dillon was first identified as a suspect after his high school friend Richard Fry alerted authorities about his troubling behavior. Dillon later pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison. He died in 2011.

Trombitas also discussed his path to becoming an author. His first manuscript was rejected for being more than 270,000 words, so he divided it into a four-book series. Book 1 focuses on Dillon. Book 2 is "Murders, Motors, The Mob and The Money." Book 3 is "Murder, Betrayal, and the Tragedy of Officer Bryan Hurst." The final book is "Final Cases, Lasting Impact."

He also co-hosts a podcast, "Off the Record," with Clark Donley and Jessie Hemmelgran, where he shares more stories from his FBI career.