Reported Heir to Multi-Million Fortune Convicted of 'Barbaric’ Christmas Eve Murder of Best Friend

Mar. 15, 2025

Dylan Thomas; William Bush.Photo:South Wales Police (2)

South Wales Police (2)

The reported heir to a multi-million dollar fortune has been found guilty ofkilling his best friend in a “frenzied attack” on Christmas Evelast year.

Per theBBCand U.K. newspapersThe TimesandThe Guardian, Thomas is the grandson of Sir Stanley Thomas, who is the founder of the South Wales-based company Peter’s Pies. The company is estimated to be worth around £230 million (almost $288 million), and Stanley Thomas sat in court throughout the trial, according to the BBC.

William Bush.South Wales Police

South Wales Police

The police release said of the murder, “The night before, Thomas had been out for a family meal in Miskin, Llantrisant. When he returned to his grandmother’s home in Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, he began a Snapchat conversation with William into the early hours of the morning.”

“While texting his best friend, he was also searching the internet for veins, arteries, anatomy, and assisted suicide,” police continued.

PerThe Guardian, the BBC andThe Times, Thomas stabbed Bush 37 times before his death, in an attack that was previously described as “frenzied” in court.

The convicted killer was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the murder and has been receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital,The Timesreported.

Dylan Thomas at a hotel the night before he fatally stabbed William Bush.South Wales Police

Thomas had been friends with the victim — who was getting ready to move in with his girlfriend, Ella Jeffries, around the time of the attack — since they met at the private school Christ College Brecon in mid-Wales at age around 13, perThe Guardian.

“Words cannot describe the impact this has had on our family however it is not just us who have lost a son and a brother, but Will’s girlfriend, friends and extended family have also lost someone who they loved very much,” the statement added.

“Will was innocently getting ready to return back to Brecon to spend Christmas with us all when the attack took place and instead of Will arriving at our door for dinner on Christmas Eve, it was Dyfed-Powys Police to deliver the beyond-devastating news,” the family continued.

“We cannot even begin to comprehend the fear and suffering that Will endured on Christmas Eve last year and we will have to live with the hurt, grief, anger and upset for the rest of our lives,” they shared, calling Thomas “an evil, manipulative liar.”

“Will was such a loyal, funny, caring and trusting person. He lit up every room he walked in to with his cheeky grin and quick-witted humor,” the family said of the victim.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Per the BBC andThe Times, Thomas will be sentenced on Dec. 16.

source: people.com