Who Is Hannah Thompson & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Hannah Thompson was 17 years old when she became involved in one of South Carolina’s most disturbing murder investigations. In October 2016, the teenager was in a relationship with John Tufton Blauvelt, a married U.S. Army recruiter whose estranged wife, Catherine “Cati” Blauvelt, was found stabbed to death inside an abandoned farmhouse near Simpsonville.

Thompson left South Carolina with Blauvelt after the murder, travelling across the United States as investigators searched for the person responsible. She returned home in December 2016, but Blauvelt remained a fugitive for almost six years, living under an assumed identity in Oregon.

The teenager’s relationship with Blauvelt became a central part of the investigation. Thompson would tell authorities that he had confessed to killing Cati, while investigators discovered that she had helped conceal evidence and maintained contact with him during his years on the run.

Her testimony played a significant role in Blauvelt’s September 2024 murder trial, which ended with his conviction and a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Thompson faced criminal charges of her own. In August 2025, she pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony, receiving three years of probation rather than a prison sentence.

Her involvement in the case is revisited in ABC’s 20/20 episode “Born to Kill,” airing Friday, October 9, 2026, at 9 p.m. Eastern and 8 p.m. Central.

• “Born to Kill”: 20/20 Reports on Cati Blauvelt Homicide October 8 2026
• Who Was Cati Blauvelt & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is John Tufton Blauvelt & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Where Is Hannah Thompson Now in 2026?

As of October 2026, Hannah Thompson’s most recent confirmed legal outcome is a sentence of three years of probation imposed in August 2025. The sentence followed her guilty pleas to obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony in connection with the investigation into Cati Blauvelt’s murder.

Thompson did not receive a prison sentence under the reported agreement. Provided the probation order remains in effect and has not been modified, its original three-year term would extend into 2028.

Her current residence, employment and personal circumstances have not been established through reliable public reporting. There is no verified public information identifying where she lives in October 2026.

Thompson’s last confirmed involvement in the case concerned the resolution of her criminal charges. She had testified against John Blauvelt during his 2024 murder trial and entered her own guilty pleas the following year.

Her case remains connected to Blauvelt’s conviction, although the two received different legal outcomes. Blauvelt was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole, while Thompson was prosecuted for concealing information and obstructing the investigation.

Who Is Hannah Thompson?

Hannah Thompson was a teenager living in the Fountain Inn area of South Carolina when she met John Blauvelt, a U.S. Army staff sergeant working as a military recruiter.

Blauvelt was approximately 26 years old when his relationship with Thompson developed. She was 17 and among the young people who spent time at his home.

The recruiter was married to Catherine “Cati” Blauvelt, a young woman who had hoped to establish a family home with her husband. Their marriage deteriorated amid disagreements about the teenagers who gathered at the property and allegations concerning Blauvelt’s conduct.

Thompson became involved with Blauvelt while he was married. Investigators described the relationship as an important factor in the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of his marriage.

Her association with Blauvelt would place her at the centre of a homicide investigation, a nationwide fugitive search and criminal proceedings that continued for almost a decade.

How Hannah Thompson Met John Blauvelt

John Blauvelt worked as an Army recruiter in Greenville County, South Carolina. His responsibilities brought him into contact with young people considering military careers, including students at local schools.

Blauvelt also invited teenagers to spend time at his house in Fountain Inn. Friends and investigators described gatherings involving alcohol, drugs and socialising.

Thompson was among the teenagers who became part of that circle. She developed a relationship with Blauvelt, despite his marriage to Cati.

The relationship created conflict within the household. Cati objected to the gatherings and wanted the property to become the family home she had imagined when she married Blauvelt.

As the marriage collapsed, Thompson’s relationship with Blauvelt continued. After Cati moved out, Thompson moved into his bedroom, according to accounts presented during the investigation.

The circumstances drew attention from Thompson’s family and local law enforcement, setting in motion events that would affect Blauvelt’s military career.

The Police Incident Involving Thompson’s Father

In February 2016, police were called to Blauvelt’s home after concerns were raised about Thompson spending time with the Army recruiter.

Thompson’s father wanted authorities to intervene because his teenage daughter was staying at the property. Officers went to the house and attempted to speak with Blauvelt.

The confrontation resulted in Blauvelt’s arrest on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His conduct and relationship with teenagers became the subject of law enforcement attention.

The incident also brought renewed scrutiny to allegations made by Cati about her husband’s behaviour.

Cati reported that Blauvelt had threatened her with a firearm during an earlier argument. Police investigated the allegation and charged him with domestic violence.

The charges affected Blauvelt’s military career. He lost his recruiting responsibilities, received a reduction in pay and was reassigned while the Army investigated his conduct.

Hannah Thompson and the Breakdown of the Blauvelt Marriage

Cati Blauvelt married John after a relationship that began in 2014. She hoped to build a stable future with the Army recruiter and imagined raising children in his Fountain Inn home.

The marriage deteriorated within months. Cati objected to the teenagers spending time at the house and became concerned about Blauvelt’s behaviour.

Thompson’s relationship with Blauvelt contributed to the conflict. Cati moved out of the property and returned to live with her mother, Patricia Piver.

The separation did not end the tension. Cati reported threats from her husband and sought legal protection, while Blauvelt faced disciplinary consequences within the Army.

Witnesses told investigators that Blauvelt blamed Cati for damaging his career. He was accused of making threats against her before her death.

Thompson remained involved with Blauvelt during this period. Her relationship with him would become a central issue when Cati disappeared in October 2016.

Cati Blauvelt’s Murder in October 2016

Catherine “Cati” Blauvelt was 22 years old when she disappeared in October 2016. She was working at a PetSmart store in the Greenville area and living apart from her husband.

Her body was discovered inside a concrete box in the basement of an abandoned farmhouse near Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Investigators determined that Cati had suffered multiple stab wounds. A knife blade had broken off during the attack and remained lodged in her neck.

Police examined the crime scene, interviewed witnesses and investigated the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of the marriage.

John Blauvelt became a focus of the investigation because of the threats reported before Cati’s death and the disciplinary consequences he had faced following her domestic violence complaint.

Thompson was not identified by investigators as the person who carried out the murder. Her involvement concerned events following Cati’s death, including assistance she provided to Blauvelt and information she concealed from authorities.

What Hannah Thompson Knew About the Murder

Thompson would tell investigators that Blauvelt confessed to killing Cati while the two were travelling after the murder.

According to her account, Blauvelt described stabbing Cati in the neck and breaking the knife during the attack. She said he provided details about the location and the handling of evidence.

Thompson also reported that Blauvelt described Cati pleading for her life. The account came from statements Thompson attributed to Blauvelt rather than from Thompson witnessing the killing.

Her testimony became significant because it concerned information about the attack that prosecutors argued supported their case against Blauvelt.

Investigators examined Thompson’s statements alongside physical evidence, witness accounts and information gathered during the search for the fugitive.

Her credibility became a contested issue because she had provided conflicting accounts and withheld information during the investigation.

The Evidence Thompson Helped Conceal

Investigators determined that Thompson had helped Blauvelt move Cati’s vehicle following the murder.

Her involvement in the handling of the car became part of the evidence examined during the criminal investigation.

Thompson also admitted withholding information about Blauvelt’s whereabouts and their continuing communication after she returned to South Carolina.

The allegations against her concerned the concealment of information and interference with the investigation rather than participation in the fatal stabbing.

Her conduct complicated the search for Blauvelt, who remained outside South Carolina and avoided arrest for almost six years.

Those actions formed the basis of the criminal charges Thompson faced following his capture in 2022.

Fleeing South Carolina With John Blauvelt

After Cati’s murder, Thompson left South Carolina with Blauvelt. She was 17 years old at the time.

The pair travelled through several states, including Alabama, Texas, New Mexico and California, before reaching the Pacific Northwest.

Investigators followed information about their movements as authorities sought to locate Blauvelt.

The journey took place while police were examining Cati’s death and preparing criminal charges against her estranged husband.

On November 18, 2016, authorities obtained warrants charging Blauvelt with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

By then, he had left South Carolina and was avoiding arrest.

Why Hannah Thompson Returned Home

Thompson returned to her family in December 2016 after spending weeks travelling with Blauvelt.

According to accounts provided during the investigation, she said Blauvelt had abandoned her in Oregon. Her return gave investigators an opportunity to question her about their movements and the information she possessed.

Thompson provided statements concerning Blauvelt’s alleged confession and the events that followed Cati’s death.

Her accounts became part of the investigation, but authorities would discover that she had not disclosed everything she knew.

Blauvelt remained a fugitive after Thompson returned home. He adopted a false identity and established a life in Oregon.

For years, investigators searched for him while Thompson continued to possess information about their past relationship and communication.

The Secret Contact That Continued for Years

Investigators learned that Thompson had maintained contact with Blauvelt after returning to South Carolina.

The communication involved social media platforms, including Facebook Messenger and Snapchat. Thompson acknowledged communicating with him during the years he remained a fugitive.

The information contradicted earlier accounts suggesting that their contact had ended.

Authorities examined the communication as part of their effort to determine Blauvelt’s whereabouts.

Thompson’s continuing contact became important in 2022, when investigators obtained information that helped identify where Blauvelt was living.

Her failure to disclose that information became part of the basis for the criminal case against her.

How Investigators Found John Blauvelt in Oregon

By 2022, Blauvelt had spent almost six years avoiding arrest. He was living in Oregon under the assumed name Ben Klein.

Investigators obtained information concerning his location and worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to identify him.

Thompson’s disclosures contributed to the breakthrough that led authorities to Medford, Oregon.

On July 20, 2022, U.S. Marshals arrested Blauvelt at a residence in Medford.

He initially claimed to be Ben Klein, but fingerprint identification confirmed that he was John Tufton Blauvelt, the fugitive wanted in connection with Cati’s murder.

The arrest ended the nationwide search and allowed prosecutors to bring the case to trial in South Carolina.

Hannah Thompson’s Arrest in October 2022

Following Blauvelt’s capture, investigators pursued criminal charges against Thompson for her conduct during the investigation.

She was arrested on October 12, 2022, and faced five felony charges, including obstruction of justice, misprision of a felony and accessory after the fact.

The charges concerned allegations that she had concealed information, assisted Blauvelt following the murder and interfered with the search for him.

Thompson initially pleaded not guilty and faced the prospect of criminal proceedings separate from Blauvelt’s murder prosecution.

Her case continued while prosecutors prepared to bring Blauvelt to trial.

The legal proceedings raised questions about her knowledge of the murder, her relationship with Blauvelt and the information she had withheld from authorities.

Her Testimony at John Blauvelt’s Murder Trial

John Blauvelt’s murder trial began in Greenville County in September 2024. Thompson appeared as a prosecution witness.

She testified about the relationship, their journey after Cati’s murder and the confession she said Blauvelt made while they were travelling.

Thompson described details of the attack that she attributed to Blauvelt, including his account of stabbing Cati and breaking the knife.

Her testimony became a significant part of the prosecution’s case because it concerned statements allegedly made by the accused following the killing.

The defence challenged Thompson’s credibility, pointing to her changing accounts and the criminal charges she faced.

Attorneys questioned whether the jury should rely on statements from a witness who had admitted concealing information and lying during the investigation.

The Verdict Against John Blauvelt

The prosecution presented evidence of Blauvelt’s threats against Cati, the breakdown of the marriage, his writings and his departure from South Carolina.

Thompson’s testimony formed part of the broader case, alongside physical evidence and statements from other witnesses.

After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately five hours before returning guilty verdicts.

Blauvelt was convicted of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in September 2024.

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The conviction brought a legal resolution to the murder prosecution almost eight years after Cati’s death.

Hannah Thompson’s Guilty Plea in August 2025

Thompson’s own criminal case continued after Blauvelt’s conviction.

On August 20, 2025, she pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony.

The charges concerned her conduct in withholding information and interfering with the investigation into Cati’s murder.

The court imposed a sentence of three years of probation rather than imprisonment.

The outcome meant Thompson avoided a prison sentence despite her involvement in concealing information during the years Blauvelt remained a fugitive.

Her conviction was separate from Blauvelt’s murder conviction and did not establish that she participated in the killing.

Why Hannah Thompson Avoided Prison

The August 2025 proceedings ended with Thompson receiving probation for the offences to which she pleaded guilty.

Her legal outcome reflected the charges resolved through the plea rather than a conviction for murder or direct participation in the fatal attack.

Investigators had not alleged that Thompson was present when Cati was killed. The case against her concerned her actions after the murder and the information she concealed.

Thompson had also testified against Blauvelt during his murder trial, providing an account of the confession she said he made.

The available reporting does not establish the full reasoning behind every aspect of the sentencing decision or whether her testimony formed part of a formal cooperation agreement.

The result remained controversial among Cati’s family, who believed Thompson’s actions had contributed to the years spent searching for Blauvelt.

How Cati Blauvelt’s Family Reacted to the Sentence

Cati’s mother, Patricia Piver, expressed disappointment after Thompson received probation.

She believed Thompson should have faced a harsher penalty because of her role in concealing information and maintaining contact with Blauvelt while he avoided arrest.

Piver had spent years waiting for her daughter’s killer to be brought to justice. The discovery that Thompson had remained in contact with Blauvelt added to the family’s frustration.

Following the sentencing, Piver told FOX Carolina that she had requested a prison sentence for Thompson.

The outcome created a contrast between the family’s expectations and the punishment imposed by the court.

For Cati’s relatives, Thompson’s conduct was part of the prolonged suffering that followed the murder and the years Blauvelt spent as a fugitive.

What Is Known About Hannah Thompson’s Life After the Case?

Thompson’s most recent confirmed legal status is her three-year probation sentence imposed in August 2025.

Public reporting does not establish where she lives, whether she has married, what work she performs or whether she has spoken about the case since her sentencing.

There is no verified public information confirming a new criminal charge, prison sentence or modification of her probation order as of October 2026.

The absence of those details means her current personal circumstances should not be inferred from her involvement in the case.

Thompson became a public figure in the investigation because of her relationship with Blauvelt, her testimony and the criminal charges brought against her.

Her life outside those proceedings has received limited public coverage.

Hannah Thompson’s Role in ABC’s 20/20 Born to Kill

ABC’s 20/20 examines the murder of Catherine “Cati” Blauvelt in the episode “Born to Kill,” airing Friday, October 9, 2026.

The programme revisits the breakdown of Cati’s marriage, the relationship between Blauvelt and Thompson, the murder investigation and the years Blauvelt spent avoiding arrest.

Thompson’s involvement is central to the case because she travelled with Blauvelt after the murder and provided investigators with information about his alleged confession.

Her testimony contributed to the prosecution’s case, while her own conduct resulted in criminal charges and a probation sentence.

The episode also examines the efforts of investigators and Cati’s family to obtain answers during the prolonged search for Blauvelt.

The case was examined in CBS’s 48 Hours programme, “Cati Blauvelt: Death of a Soldier’s Wife,” which explored the evidence and the role of people connected to the murder.

Where the Hannah Thompson Case Stands in October 2026

Hannah Thompson was 17 when she became involved with John Blauvelt and fled South Carolina with him after the murder of his estranged wife in October 2016.

She returned home in December of that year, while Blauvelt remained a fugitive for almost six years.

Investigators learned that Thompson had concealed information and maintained contact with him through social media. Her disclosures helped authorities locate Blauvelt in Oregon in July 2022.

Thompson testified at his September 2024 murder trial, which ended with a guilty verdict and a life sentence without parole.

In August 2025, Thompson pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony and received three years of probation.

As of October 2026, probation remains her most recent confirmed legal outcome. Her precise whereabouts and personal circumstances have not been established through reliable public reporting.

Her role in the case remains significant because of the information she possessed, the years she withheld it and the testimony she provided when Blauvelt was brought to trial.

More “Born to Kill”

• “Born to Kill”: 20/20 Reports on Cati Blauvelt Homicide October 8 2026
• Who Was Cati Blauvelt & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is John Tufton Blauvelt & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Hannah Thompson & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile

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