The Black Widower's Web: The 6 Wives Of Thomas Randolph And His Shocking 60-Year Sentence

The case of Thomas Randolph, dubbed "The Black Widower," remains one of the most chilling and complex true crime sagas in modern American history, driven by a trail of six marriages and four mysterious deaths. As of December 15, 2025, the latest legal chapter has concluded with Randolph receiving a sentence of at least 60 years to life in prison following his second conviction for the 2008 double murder of his sixth wife, Sharon Causse, and the hitman he hired, Michael Miller. This final outcome solidifies a decades-long narrative of manipulation, life insurance fraud, and suspicion that has captivated the public and true crime media alike, including the Investigation Discovery docuseries dedicated to his story.

The saga of Thomas Randolph is not just a tale of murder, but a deep dive into the legal and psychological complexities of a man who managed to evade justice for decades, fueling intense speculation about whether he is a serial killer. The overturning of his initial 2017 death sentence and the subsequent retrial in Clark County, Nevada, kept the case in the national spotlight, forcing prosecutors to once again prove a calculated scheme of murder-for-hire and greed.

The Complete Biography and Timeline of Thomas Randolph

Thomas Randolph’s life is defined by a series of marriages, wealth accumulation through life insurance payouts, and the suspicious deaths of his partners. The "Black Widower" moniker stems from the fact that he has been married a staggering six times, with four of those wives dying under circumstances that were eventually scrutinized by law enforcement.

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• Full Name: Thomas Randolph
• Nickname: "The Black Widower"
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (Primary location of key crimes and trials)
• First Conviction: 2017 (Sentenced to death for the 2008 murders).
• Conviction Overturned: 2021 (Nevada Supreme Court overturned the conviction due to the improper use of "prior bad-act" evidence related to the death of his second wife, Becky Gault).
• Second Conviction & Sentencing: Post-2021 Retrial (Convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, sentenced to 60 years to life in prison).
• Victims: Sharon Causse (6th wife) and Michael Miller (hired hitman).
• Motive: Financial gain, specifically life insurance policies.

The Six Wives: A Chronology of Suspicion

The core of the Randolph case lies in the suspicious pattern of his marital history. While only the murder of his sixth wife, Sharon Causse, resulted in a final conviction, the deaths of three other wives—and the immense life insurance payouts that followed—painted a damning picture for the prosecution.

The six women Thomas Randolph married are key entities in this true crime narrative:

1. Kathryn Thomas: Details on her death are less public, but she is listed as Randolph's first wife.
2. Becky Gault: Randolph's second wife. She died in 1986 from what was initially determined to be a suicide. Randolph was charged with her murder in 1988 but was later acquitted. This "prior bad-act" evidence was a key factor in the overturning of his 2017 conviction.
3. Gayna Allmon: Details on her death are also less public, but she is counted among the four wives who died during or after their marriage to Randolph.
4. Francis Randolph: She died in April 2004 in a hospital following heart surgery. Allegations surfaced that Randolph had prevented her daughter from visiting her before her death.
5. Leona Stapleton: Listed as the fifth wife.
6. Sharon Causse: His sixth wife, whose 2008 murder led to his final conviction. She was shot in their Las Vegas home in what was initially staged as a home invasion and burglary.

The Double Murder of Sharon Causse and Michael Miller

The crime that ultimately led to Thomas Randolph's incarceration occurred in May 2008 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Randolph claimed that a masked intruder had broken into the home and shot his wife, Sharon Causse, before Randolph himself retrieved a gun and shot the intruder.

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The police investigation, however, quickly determined that the scenario was a carefully orchestrated double-murder plot. The "intruder" was identified as Michael Miller, a handyman Randolph had allegedly hired and conspired with to murder Sharon. The motive was clear: to collect a substantial life insurance payout on Sharon Causse. Randolph then murdered Miller to eliminate the only witness to the conspiracy and make the entire event look like a botched burglary.

The prosecution’s case against Randolph, both in the 2017 trial and the retrial, relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of witnesses who detailed Randolph's manipulative and controlling behavior. The defense maintained Randolph’s innocence, arguing he was a man defending his home and his wife.

The Overturned Death Sentence and the Final 60-Year Verdict

Following his initial 2017 conviction, Thomas Randolph was sentenced to death. This was a monumental victory for the Clark County prosecutors, who had spent years building a case against the elusive "Black Widower." However, in 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the conviction.

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The legal basis for the appeal was the use of "prior bad-act" evidence, specifically the details surrounding the death of his second wife, Becky Gault. The court ruled that the introduction of this evidence unfairly prejudiced the jury, leading to the decision to grant a retrial. This decision sent shockwaves through the true crime community and provided Randolph with a second chance at freedom.

The retrial, which took place in the subsequent years, once again resulted in a guilty verdict for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Randolph had orchestrated the entire event. The final sentencing, handed down by a Clark County judge, saw Randolph receive a term of 60 years to life in prison. This sentence, while not the death penalty, ensures that Thomas Randolph will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal killings of Sharon Causse and Michael Miller.

The Enduring Legacy in True Crime Media

The bizarre and sensational nature of Thomas Randolph’s case has made him a permanent fixture in the true crime genre. Investigation Discovery (ID) produced a definitive three-part docuseries titled The Black Widower: The Six Wives of Thomas Randolph, which premiered in July 2024.

The docuseries, which includes prison interviews with Randolph and testimony from the surviving family members and law enforcement, delves into the suspicious deaths of all four wives and his manipulative tactics. The media coverage, including extensive reporting by Court TV and Law & Crime, has kept the case in the public consciousness, ensuring that the story of the man who married six times and was convicted of a double murder remains a cautionary tale about greed and deception.

The final 60-year sentence represents a definitive close to the legal battles, but the dark questions surrounding the deaths of Kathryn Thomas, Becky Gault, Gayna Allmon, and Francis Randolph continue to fuel debate among true crime enthusiasts about the full extent of the "Black Widower’s" crimes. The entities and themes of life insurance, serial marriage, and a calculated double-murder plot ensure that the Thomas Randolph case will be studied for years to come.