Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were the two 10‑year‑old boys who abducted and murdered two‑year‑old James Bulger in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993; they were detained for the killing, released as adults with new identities, and have lived very different lives since then. Thompson is widely reported to have stayed out of trouble under his new identity, while Venables has repeatedly been recalled to prison for child‑abuse image offenses and is currently facing another parole review.

Quick Scoop: The Basics

  • In February 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables abducted James Bulger from a shopping centre and led him to a railway line where he was tortured and killed.
  • Both were tried as children, convicted of murder, and detained for years in secure youth units rather than adult prisons.
  • On release in 2001, each received lifelong anonymity orders and entirely new identities because of the intense public anger and safety concerns.

What Happened To Robert Thompson?

Most open‑source reporting suggests Thompson has kept a low profile since his release.

  • He was released on life licence in 2001 with a new identity and strict conditions, including where he can live and who he can contact.
  • There have been no confirmed reports of him reoffending; commentators and forum users often describe him as “living a quiet, ordinary life” under his new name and staying out of the spotlight.

Thompson Now (As Far As Known)

  • His current name, job, or location are not publicly known because publishing them would likely breach court anonymity orders in the UK.
  • Discussions on true‑crime forums generally frame Thompson as the one who appears to have complied with rehabilitation and licence conditions, even though people still strongly debate his level of responsibility in the original crime.

What Happened To Jon Venables?

Venables’ life after release has been turbulent and is still a trending topic whenever new court moves are reported.

  • He was first released on licence in 2001, but in 2010 he was recalled to prison when indecent images of children were found on his computer.
  • He was released again in 2013 and later recalled in 2017 after further child‑abuse image offenses, with authorities also citing concerning online behaviour.

Latest News On Venables

  • As of January 2026, UK outlets report that Venables, now in his early forties, is once more in custody and is due to have another parole hearing, after a previous bid for release was rejected in 2023 on the basis that he still posed a risk to children.
  • Coverage and forum discussions highlight repeated suggestions that he has blown his new identity several times by telling people who he is, which has fuelled public anger about the cost and practicality of continually protecting him.

New Identities, Law, And Public Anger

The question “what happened to Robert Thompson and Jon Venables” is tightly tied to debates about anonymity, justice, and rehabilitation.

  • Both men remain on life licence, meaning they can be recalled to prison at any time if they breach conditions or are judged a risk; this is what has repeatedly happened to Venables but not, as far as is publicly known, to Thompson.
  • UK anonymity orders make it a criminal offense to publish current identifying details, which is why mainstream outlets and moderators on forums remove posts that claim to reveal their present identities or locations.

Forum Discussion & Trending Context

On true‑crime forums and social media, the topic regularly resurfaces, especially whenever there is a new parole development or documentary.

  • Typical discussion themes include whether it was “fair” that they got new identities, if Venables’ repeated offending proves the system failed, and whether Thompson’s apparent law‑abiding life should change how people view him.
  • Many posters express intense anger, particularly about Venables, calling for him never to be released, while others argue that the justice system must still follow legal standards on risk and human rights even in highly emotive cases.

“They both got a fresh start, but only one seems to have used it,” is a common sentiment in online discussions of what happened to Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.

TL;DR: Both killers were released with new identities; Thompson has stayed hidden and, so far as is publicly known, has not reoffended, while Venables has repeatedly been recalled to prison for child‑abuse image offenses and is again awaiting a parole decision.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.