A Twisted Nightmare - Part 3 - The Murder of Beckie Gault, Thomas Randolph’s Second Wife
Beckie’s marriage to Randolph, which began with promise, soon deteriorated under the weight of financial struggles and emotional abuse. Beckie, described as the lively heart of her family, found herself isolated and dependent on a husband who controlled every aspect of her life. As Randolph’s drug-dealing activities intensified, so did his psychological grip on Beckie, pushing her deeper into despair.
Randolph’s sinister plans became evident when he attempted to enlist his handyman, Eric Tarantino, in a plot to murder Beckie for insurance money. Tarantino, horrified by Randolph’s schemes, refused and became a victim himself, brutally beaten by Randolph for refusing. Despite warnings from Beckie’s family and friends, Randolph’s manipulation and threats kept Beckie trapped in a cycle of fear and dependency. Tragically, Beckie’s life ended in what was officially ruled a suicide—a conclusion disputed by those who knew her best, who pointed to Randolph’s role in her drug addiction and mental anguish.
Thomas Randolph was charged with Becky’s murder as a first-degree murder on December 8th, 1988, more than two years after her death. He was also charged with a second-degree felony charge of filing a false insurance claim. If found guilty he would potentially face the death penalty.
In order to avoid a guilty verdict, Thomas attempted to hire a hitman to have Eric Tarantino killed so he would not be able to testify during the trial. The hitman turned out to be an undercover cop, and Thomas was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He ended up pleading guilty to felony witness tampering with a sentence of 0-5 years.
In spite of all of this, Thomas Randolph was somehow found not guilty of the murder of Beckie Gault. Beckie’s mother, Martha, said, “He's guilty, and he's just going to kill someone else's daughter, so beware.”
The Six Wives of Thomas Randolph - Coming to Investigation Discovery
On June 20, 2024, Investigation Discovery announced a new multipart documentary series on Thomas Randolph, also known as The Black Widower. The series will air on Investigation Discovery (ID) beginning on July 15, 2024.
Thomas Randolph is a bizarre, outlandish, flamboyant, and twisted individual, and when we crafted these episodes, it was challenging not to let him take center stage. Throughout our coverage of the case, we remained victim-centric, so the stories of the women and families affected by Tom Randolph don’t get lost amid what is a horrific and appalling story.
We plan to tune in to the documentary to see whether the producers unearth any other details about Thomas Randolph’s wives and any additional victims of his disturbing and abusive behavior. As with all our episodes, we strive to center the victims and highlight the importance of justice for their families. If you watch the documentary, please let us know your thoughts on the case and ID’s coverage.
Listen now to “A Twisted Nightmare” a four-part series on The Black Widower, Thomas Randolph, and his six wives:
A Twisted Nightmare - Part 1 - The Murder of Sharon Randolph
A Twisted Nightmare - Part 2 - Wives of the Black Widower
A Twisted Nightmare - Part 3 - The Murder of Beckie Gault
A Twisted Nightmare - Part 4 - The Trial: Nevada vs. Thomas Randolph
