LAS VEGAS — Judi Fergason has been fighting for her sister's story to be told ever since she was murdered in the recent serial stabbings near UNLV.
And now, with the help of Fergason, the identity of one of the victims has now come to light — Jody Thompson DeVries was the 57-year-old woman stabbed by Christopher Martell on Sept. 14.
Beyond her tragic death, her sister Judi tells KTNV that Jody was a twin sister and a person experiencing the trials of homelessness and addiction.
Judi and Jody were born in May 1965, only 20 minutes apart. They grew up in Livermore, California, where friends and family would call them the "Thompson Twins," referring to the famous pop band that rose to fame in the 70s. Many saw them as a unit, but Judi says they couldn't be more different, in height, stature and personality.
By the time the two were 16, their older sister and her infant child died in a car crash on their brother's 22nd birthday. Five years later, when they were 21, the girls also lost their mother. And by age 36, they lost their father.
Judi says the once jovial and curious Jody was deeply struggling to cope with the grief and trauma of losing so much of her family, while also experiencing homelessness.
At her best, Jody was employed — with help from the Salvation Army — at T-Mobile arena, though she was still experiencing intermittent homelessness.
In her final hours, Las Vegas police told Judi, Jody was asleep when Martell killed her.
