ANTHONY “TONY” RAY AMATI | “The Thrill Killer” | Murdered People In Thrill-Killings In Las Vegas | FBI Closes the Book on 452nd Most Wanted Fugitive Captured After 21 Years on the Run | Autographed Letter Signed

Tony R. Amati. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Reno, NV. December 30, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

Tony Ray Amati

Early Life and Background

Tony Ray Amati was born on June 28, 1976, in Carbondale, Illinois. His family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1992. He graduated with honors from Clark High School in 1994. During his high school years, he worked as a telemarketer. A psychological evaluation during his murder trial indicated that he was highly intelligent and capable of discerning right from wrong. The doctor who evaluated him noted that he exhibited traits consistent with obsessive-compulsive disorder and had personality characteristics similar to those found in successful accountants.

Criminal Activities and Murders

Amati’s criminal activities escalated when he, along with accomplices Troy Sampson and Edward James, committed a robbery at a gun store in southern Las Vegas in May 1996. They stole firearms valued at approximately $30,000. The trio’s violent crime spree began shortly after this robbery. On May 27, 1996, they shot and killed Michael Matta, a homeless man rummaging through trash bags in a parking lot. This murder was followed by the shooting of John Garcia on July 5, 1996, near his home. Finally, on August 3, 1996, they murdered Keith Dyer outside a friend’s residence; during this incident, a witness named Stacie Dooley was also shot but survived.

Investigation and Capture

The investigation into the murders led to the collection of crucial evidence when Amati cut his hand at one of the crime scenes, leaving behind blood that linked him to the murders. In October 1996, while attempting to sell stolen firearms to an undercover officer, Sampson and James were arrested; however, Amati managed to evade capture for some time. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list on February 27, 1998.

Amati utilized multiple aliases during his time as a fugitive and was believed to have been hiding out in various locations across the United States. After being featured on the television program “America’s Most Wanted,” tips led authorities to track him down in Atlanta, Georgia. On March 1, 1998, FBI agents arrested him without incident at a hotel.

Trial and Sentencing

In 1999, Tony Ray Amati stood trial for his involvement in the murders of Matta, Garcia, and Dyer. Despite denying his guilt throughout the proceedings – claiming he was not responsible for the killings – he was ultimately found guilty of multiple charges including murder with a deadly weapon and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He received a life sentence with eligibility for parole after serving a minimum of 40 years.

Conclusion

Tony Ray Amati is known as “The Thrill Killer” due to the nature of his crimes which involved random acts of violence against unsuspecting victims over a short period in Las Vegas during the summer of 1996.

VIDEO: Tony Ray Amati - The Thrill Killer | https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ABqp4PPZUcc?feature=share

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