The Thanksgiving Murders
In the realm of true crime, few cases are as gruesome and disturbing as that of Joel Michael Guy Jr., a man whose cold-blooded brutality and chilling lack of remorse shocked the nation. The murder of his parents, Lisa and Joel Guy Sr., during Thanksgiving weekend in 2016 was not a spontaneous act of rage, but a premeditated slaughter born from greed and manipulation. The case became notorious not only for its brutality, but also for the disturbing level of calculation and planning involved. This is the story of a son who turned into a monster, murdering the very people who gave him life.
Early Life of Joel Michael Guy Jr.
Joel Michael Guy Jr. was born in 1988 and raised in a relatively stable home in Knoxville, Tennessee. His parents, Lisa and Joel Guy Sr., were hard-working and supportive, striving to give their son every opportunity. Joel Jr. was the youngest of four children and the only one still financially dependent on his parents well into adulthood. Despite being highly intelligent, Joel Jr. led an isolated and socially withdrawn life. He had no job, few social connections, and had been a perpetual student, enrolled in college for years without earning a degree or showing real progress.
His parents had supported him financially for nearly three decades—paying his tuition, rent, and other expenses. But by 2016, they had had enough. They were preparing to retire and planned to stop funding their son’s lifestyle. This decision would ultimately cost them their lives.
The Thanksgiving Visit
Thanksgiving 2016 was supposed to be a quiet, family-oriented holiday. Joel Sr. and Lisa invited their children, including Joel Jr., to their Knoxville home for one last Thanksgiving before they planned to sell the house and move into retirement. For Joel Jr., this news was not welcome.
Unbeknownst to his family, Joel Jr. had been meticulously planning their murders. He believed that by killing his parents, he would inherit life insurance money and avoid being cut off financially. Investigators would later discover a detailed notebook in Joel Jr.’s handwriting outlining his entire plan, including instructions on how to murder, dismember, and dispose of the bodies. He had prepared for the murders with chilling precision—purchasing chemicals, knives, and tools in advance.
The Murders
On November 26, 2016, two days after Thanksgiving, Joel Michael Guy Jr. brutally murdered his parents in their home. According to evidence presented at trial, he first attacked his father, stabbing him over 40 times. Lisa Guy, returning home shortly after, was then attacked and killed with equal savagery. Joel Jr. stabbed her over 30 times and even severed her head from her body.
The true horror of the crime, however, lay in what came after the murders. Joel Jr. dismembered both bodies and attempted to dissolve the remains using chemicals in large plastic tubs in the bathroom. Lisa’s head was found boiling in a stockpot on the kitchen stove, while other body parts were scattered and partially melted in various containers throughout the home.
His attempt to create what investigators would call a “chemical stew of human remains” was part of his plan to make the murders undetectable and to destroy evidence. He had written about it in the notebook, referring to specific steps like “kill him with knife,” “flush chunks down toilet,” and “time to get needed supplies.”
However, despite his planning, Joel Jr. made several mistakes. After the murders, he left the scene temporarily to retrieve medical supplies for a hand injury—possibly sustained during the attacks. Surveillance footage caught him buying these items at a local store. He also failed to complete the disposal of the bodies before leaving, which would later lead to his downfall.
Discovery of the Crime
Lisa Guy failed to show up for work the following Monday, prompting concern from her coworkers. After multiple unanswered calls, the authorities were requested to perform a welfare check. On November 28, 2016, deputies entered the Guy residence and were met with a scene of unimaginable horror.
The home was humid and reeked of chemicals and decay. Body parts floated in tubs of acidic solution, and blood was smeared across the walls and floors. Investigators discovered Lisa’s severed head boiling in a pot on the stove, along with handwritten notes meticulously detailing the plan for the double homicide.
Joel Michael Guy Jr. was quickly identified as the prime suspect. He was arrested at his apartment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, days later. Evidence recovered from his belongings—including receipts, the notebook, and surveillance footage—tied him directly to the crime.
Trial and Conviction
Joel Michael Guy Jr. was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and felony murder. During the trial in 2020, prosecutors laid out the gruesome details of the case, painting a picture of a man driven by greed and devoid of empathy.
The handwritten notebook—titled with eerie simplicity as “Notebook of a Killer”—became the centerpiece of the prosecution’s case. It outlined his thoughts, plans, and rationale behind the killings. He showed no visible emotion during the trial, even as graphic images and autopsy reports were presented.
After a relatively short deliberation, the jury found Joel Michael Guy Jr. guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The judge called the murders “especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel.”
Aftermath and Legacy
The Thanksgiving Murders sent shockwaves through the Knoxville community and beyond. The sheer brutality of the crime, combined with the calculating nature of the killer, horrified even seasoned investigators. It also raised disturbing questions about mental health, entitlement, and the potential darkness that can reside behind a seemingly quiet and intelligent façade.
Many who followed the case continue to struggle with understanding how a son could commit such acts against his own parents—people who had loved and supported him for years. The case has since been featured in several true crime documentaries and television programs, and it remains one of the most unsettling familial homicide cases in recent U.S. history.
Joel Michael Guy Jr.’s story serves as a terrifying reminder that not all killers fit the stereotypical image. Sometimes, the most dangerous individuals are not strangers lurking in the dark, but the ones sitting quietly at the family table—harboring violent fantasies masked by a calm exterior.
