Reward for Thompsons’ Killers Grows

The reward fund established to help find the killers of millionaire racing promoter Mickey Thompson and his wife, Trudy, has grown to $255,000, according to family members who on Wednesday pleaded for the public’s help in locating the two men believed responsible for the execution-style slaying.

Fighting back tears, Thompson’s sister, Collene Thompson Campbell, said, “We want to do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice as quickly as possible.” The reward offer expires June 30, she said.

Most of the reward money has been donated anonymously. But among the other contributors are the Specialty Equipment Marketing Assn., Homes for Sale magazine, Max Tread Tire Co. and the American Motorcycle Assn.

The Thompsons, who operated their promotion business out of offices at Anaheim Stadium, were gunned down as they were leaving their Bradbury estate in Los Angeles County just after dawn on March 16. Thompson, 59, was the first American to break the 400-m.p.h. land speed mark. In recent years he had become a dominant force in racing promotions nationwide.