Kelley Clayton was born on August 1, 1980, in the quiet town of Elmira, New York. As the youngest of three children, Kelley grew up in a close-knit family alongside her brother Lenny and older sister Kim, who was ten years older and acted as a protective figure in Kelley’s life. Their parents, Elizabeth and Howard Stage, were deeply respected in their community. Howard, in particular, was a local hero, having served as the chief of the volunteer fire department for many years. The warmth and support of the Stage family created a loving environment where each member could thrive.
Kelley was known for her sunny disposition and her ability to find the good in everyone. Her positive outlook on life endeared her to many, and her natural charisma made her a favorite among her peers. Kelley attended a liberal arts-focused school, where she excelled both academically and athletically. She was a regular on the honor roll, and her involvement as a cheerleader and softball player showcased her outgoing nature. After graduating high school, Kelley Clayton pursued a degree in education at the State University of New York, completing her studies in 1998.
An Unexpected Turn
While many expected Kelley Clayton to start a teaching career right after college, she surprised her friends and family by choosing a different path. Instead of settling down in her hometown, Kelley moved to Las Vegas, where she began working as a cocktail waitress. However, the pull of family remained strong. By 2000, she returned to Elmira to spend the Christmas holidays with her loved ones. It was during this visit that she met Thomas Clayton, a man who would soon become her husband.
Thomas Clayton, originally from Binghamton, was a local celebrity in Elmira, having played forward for the town’s minor league hockey team for four seasons. Known for his charm and athletic prowess, Thomas quickly gained attention both on and off the ice. However, his reputation was marred by his wild behavior and multiple romantic entanglements. Despite his reckless tendencies, Thomas and Kelley Clayton were immediately drawn to each other after meeting at a hockey game. That same night, they encountered each other again at a local bar, and their connection grew from there.
Within a year, Kelley and Thomas were married, and Kelley took on her husband’s last name, becoming Kelley Clayton. The couple settled in Caton, New York, where Thomas shifted his career focus after an injury ended his hockey playing days. He became the owner of a water and fire damage restoration franchise, while Kelley Clayton embraced her new role as a mother. Their first child, Charlie, was born in 2008, followed by their son Cullen a few years later. To outsiders, the Clayton family appeared perfect—Kelley balanced caring for their two children with her job as a waitress, and Thomas ran his business.
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A Devastating Tragedy
The idyllic image of the Clayton family was shattered on the night of September 29, 2015. While Thomas was out playing poker at a friend’s house, Kelley Clayton remained at home with their children. Just after midnight, Thomas called 911, reporting that he had found his wife unresponsive. When authorities arrived, they discovered Kelley had been brutally beaten to death. The forensic evidence suggested a violent attack, and there were no signs of forced entry, leading investigators to believe the attacker might have been someone Kelley knew.
In the hours following the murder, a crucial piece of evidence came from an unexpected witness—Kelley’s seven-year-old daughter, Charlie. In a heartbreaking conversation with the local sheriff, Charlie revealed that she had seen a man hurting her mother. She described how her mother had shouted for her to run away, and despite the attacker wearing a hood, she noticed that his eyes looked just like her father’s. This haunting detail led investigators to focus their attention on Thomas Clayton, marking the beginning of a complex and chilling investigation.
When investigators asked Kelley’s daughter, Charlie, to describe the man she saw, her observations raised immediate suspicions. She noted that the attacker was as tall as her father and wore jeans similar to ones Thomas often wore. Despite these unsettling details, Thomas Clayton had been playing poker at a friend’s house that night, approximately 20 miles from his home—a 30-minute drive. When he discovered Kelley’s body and rushed to the neighbor’s house to call 911, there were no traces of blood on him, and he hadn’t had time to clean up. This left investigators puzzled with unanswered questions.
Several people corroborated Thomas’s alibi, confirming he had been at the poker game. However, investigators uncovered a troubling detail: just 90 minutes before Thomas arrived home to find Kelley Clayton dead, he had borrowed a woman’s phone to make a call. This raised doubts about his whereabouts and intentions.
As the investigation progressed, the preliminary autopsy on Kelley’s body revealed a horrifying scene. She had died from severe head trauma and injuries to the lower part of her brain. Her body was battered with bruises, fractures to her face, and a serious contusion on her right hip. The sheer brutality of the attack left her almost unrecognizable, making it hard for the medical examiner to determine her age. Kelley Clayton had defensive wounds, including broken fingers, indicating she fought desperately for her life.
The Link to Michael Beard
As suspicion around Thomas grew, investigators analyzed his phone records. They discovered a series of calls and messages connecting Thomas to a man named Michael Beard. Beard, a former employee who had once worked for Thomas’s restoration business, had recently been fired and was living in an apartment owned by the Clayton family. On the night of the murder, Beard was the person Thomas had contacted.
Initially, Michael Beard denied any involvement in Kelley’s death. However, just days later, on October 2, 2015, after being caught in several lies, Beard confessed to the crime. He revealed shocking details, stating that Thomas had paid him $10,000 to murder Kelley Clayton. Beard even led investigators to the murder weapon—a hammer handle stained with blood—which he had hidden not far from the Clayton home. Additionally, Beard handed over the bloodstained clothes he wore that night and pointed authorities to a creek where he had discarded the house keys Thomas had given him.
Forensic analysis confirmed that the blood on the hammer matched Kelley Clayton’s DNA, and Beard admitted to wearing gloves during the attack. Although he attempted to dispose of the gloves to eliminate DNA evidence, investigators discovered they belonged to Thomas, further tying him to the crime.
Other evidence soon surfaced that raised even more suspicion toward Thomas. A year prior to the murder, Thomas had doubled Kelley’s life insurance policy from $500,000 to $1 million. This financial motive was highlighted during media interviews, including one with Kelley Clayton’s sister, who openly stated that Thomas stood to benefit from her death.
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The Murder-for-Hire Scheme Unfolds
With the evidence mounting and Beard’s confession in hand, prosecutors determined that Kelley Clayton’s death was the result of a murder-for-hire plot. Both Thomas Clayton and Michael Beard were charged with first- and second-degree murder, and it was decided that they would be tried separately.
In a surprising turn, a third suspect, Mark Blandford, was also arrested and charged with second-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy. Blandford had been recruited to assist in a planned robbery at the Clayton home, but he maintained that he had no direct contact with Thomas and believed he was only participating in a burglary, not a murder.
As Thomas Clayton faced arraignment, tensions ran high. The once-close families of Thomas and Kelley Clayton found themselves on opposite sides of the courtroom—Thomas’s supporters on one side, Kelley’s family and friends on the other. Thomas pleaded not guilty, and his defense team argued that he had no involvement in the crime. They pointed to his solid alibi and noted that GPS data from his car confirmed he was at the poker game when Kelley Clayton was killed. Moreover, Thomas had passed a polygraph test.
However, the prosecution remained steadfast, emphasizing that the charges were based on a murder-for-hire conspiracy, not just a matter of being physically present at the scene.
The defense strongly opposed the use of Thomas Clayton’s polygraph test in the trial, arguing that it should not be admitted as evidence. Meanwhile, Kelley’s murder had gained significant media attention, igniting outrage and heartbreak throughout the community. Purple ribbons lined the streets, symbolizing support for justice for Kelley Clayton, while posters demanding action were displayed all over town.
The tragedy was felt deeply, especially by Kelley Clayton’s family. Her two young children were now without their mother, and their father was behind bars. Kelley’s sister, who was granted custody of the children, faced not only the emotional burden of caring for them but also the financial challenges that came with suddenly raising two young kids. Friends and relatives rallied to provide support and assistance for Kelley’s children during this difficult time.
Thomas Released on Bail and Beard’s Shocking Recantation
In February 2016, Thomas was released from prison after posting an $850,000 bail. While awaiting his trial, the judge lifted the protective order that had kept him away from his home, allowing him access now that the crime scene had been cleared and the children no longer lived there. Michael Beard’s trial was the first to begin, but just days before, Beard shocked everyone by recanting his earlier confession, which had not been recorded.
He claimed that Thomas had hired him, not to commit murder, but to burn down the house in exchange for insurance money. Beard explained that when he arrived at the home, he found Kelley Clayton’s lifeless body and heard the children upstairs, prompting him to flee the scene.
Beard’s defense attorney argued that Beard had been coerced by law enforcement into signing a false confession and promised to present evidence in court proving this. On October 25, 2016, Beard entered a not guilty plea before a jury of eight men and four women, referring to Kelley Clayton as a friend and expressing sympathy for her family. Despite this recantation, the prosecution remained confident, presenting both testimony and evidence to show that Beard and Thomas had conspired together.
The Prosecution’s Case Against Michael Beard
During the trial, the prosecution presented details from Beard’s signed confession, which had been read aloud by a New York State Police investigator who had been present when Beard initially confessed. According to the confession, Thomas had asked Beard to “do something that could land him in prison,” a request that initially shocked Beard. Although Beard first refused, Thomas eventually persuaded him, threatening him until Beard agreed.
Struggling financially after losing his job, Beard accepted Thomas’s offer of $10,000, with the promise of receiving a vehicle, a weapon, and keys to the house. The plan was to kill Kelley Clayton when the children were away, then set the house on fire to stage the crime as an accident caused by a candle.
On the night of September 28, Beard entered the Clayton home, went upstairs, and found Kelley Clayton in bed. He struck her with a blunt object, and though Kelley Clayton fought back, she stumbled through the house before falling down the stairs. Even after suffering injuries, she managed to reach the kitchen, where Beard delivered the final, fatal blows to her head.
Another investigator revealed that Thomas was supposed to signal Beard with a phone call that night, but Beard had been instructed not to answer. Phone records showed that Beard’s phone was turned on and off seven times during the night of the murder, with the last time being at 11:45 PM. It remained off until 1:12 AM on September 29. The prosecution also introduced forensic evidence, including Beard’s DNA on the blunt object used to kill Kelley Clayton.
Beard’s defense attorney continued to argue that his client had been coerced into confessing, claiming Beard had feared for his wife’s safety if he did not take responsibility. The defense pointed to the lack of direct evidence, such as fingerprints, and questioned the reliability of witnesses, suggesting they had been influenced or misinterpreted the events of that night.
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Verdict and Sentencing
After a two-week trial, Michael Beard was found guilty of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Kelley Clayton’s family and friends expressed immense relief after the verdict. Her sister publicly condemned Beard, calling him a coward who deserved the harshest sentence possible.
Bringing Thomas Clayton to justice proved more difficult. His trial began in January 2017, and the case against him was complicated by the fact that most physical evidence pointed to Michael Beard. Additionally, the district attorney was unable to use Beard’s confession or call him as a witness after Beard retracted his earlier statement. Instead, the prosecution focused on circumstantial evidence, including phone records, GPS data, and testimony from women who had been involved in extramarital affairs with Thomas. These pieces of evidence painted a picture of a man who stood to benefit greatly from Kelley Clayton’s death, but proving his direct involvement in the murder-for-hire plot remained a formidable challenge for the prosecution.
Testimonies Unveil a Troubling Motive
The testimonies of several women revealed a potential motive behind Kelley’s murder. Prosecutors argued that Thomas Clayton, once a respected businessman and former hockey player, had grown to despise his wife. Three women testified that Thomas had often complained about Kelley, referring to her in derogatory terms and calling her “lazy” and “ungrateful.” He had expressed to these women his desire to leave Kelley Clayton but confessed that a divorce would financially ruin him, as she would “take everything.” One of the most shocking testimonies came from a girl who had been just 15 years old when she became involved with Thomas.
A former police officer turned private investigator also became a key witness for the prosecution. He had cross-referenced phone records that confirmed Thomas and Michael Beard had been in contact multiple times leading up to the murder. Further evidence showed that Beard left his home shortly before 11 PM on the night of the crime, just after receiving a call from the man who had hired him. Prosecutors painted a clear picture of Thomas as the mastermind behind the plan, orchestrating Kelley Clayton’s murder and using his former employee, Michael, as a scapegoat.
Thomas’s defense argued that he was being wrongly accused, claiming that Beard acted alone with the intent to rob the house. The defense maintained that Thomas had no knowledge of the murder plan and insisted that the evidence against him was circumstantial.
Despite these claims, the prosecution called 65 witnesses and presented over 400 pieces of evidence to support their case. Meanwhile, the defense called only 10 witnesses and focused on cross-examining the prosecution’s key players. After seven weeks of intense courtroom proceedings, the jury took just six hours to deliberate.
Verdict and Aftermath
On February 23, 2017, Thomas Clayton was found guilty of both first- and second-degree murder. The emotional aftermath of the verdict was felt throughout the courtroom. Kelley Clayton’s sister, who had taken custody of Kelley’s children, read a letter written by Kelley’s daughter, Charlie. In the letter, Charlie expressed love for both her parents but called her father a coward for making Michael Beard kill her mother. Kelley’s sister also emphasized that raising the children helped keep Kelley’s memory alive, ensuring her legacy as a devoted mother would never be forgotten.
Thomas’s family, who had supported him throughout the trial, stood by his side even after the guilty verdict. His father expressed pride in calling him his son, despite the outcome.
Thomas’s sentencing took place two months later. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and sent to a New York state correctional facility. Meanwhile, a third man involved in the case, who had initially been charged with second-degree murder, reached a plea deal with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in exchange for his testimony against Thomas and was sentenced to three to six years in prison.
In October 2018, Thomas filed an appeal, bringing the case back into the spotlight. His defense team argued that the cell phone data used in the trial was unreliable and untested, and they claimed that the prosecution had failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the appeal was denied, leaving Thomas with limited options for future legal challenges.
Renewed Interest in the Case
On January 20, 2023, more than six years after Kelley Clayton’s murder, a major television network aired a true-crime documentary that reignited public interest in the case. Michael Beard participated in the program, maintaining his innocence and claiming that both Thomas and the police had set him up. Beard stated that when he found Kelley’s body, he didn’t check to see if she was alive or call 911 because he feared being implicated.
As a Black man, he explained, he was terrified of being found in the home of a dead white woman in the middle of the night. Beard also claimed that he had encountered someone else inside the house, but couldn’t see their face as they knocked him down while fleeing.
Thomas refused to be interviewed for the documentary, while Kelley Clayton’s family shared that despite the tragedy, her children were doing well and growing up happy, thanks to the love and support of their extended family.
