Perhaps it should, and has. Cliff edged forward, closer to Tricia. From how the plan was hatched to Barts trial, sentence, and the stunning new development in the case, this book provides all the details. Box 13401 Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. The unfairness of the situation is, ironically, an argument against the penalty, illustrating unjustness in US criminal practice. (Kent also said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear.). Well known that the USs neighbour, Canada, has a much lower rate 1.6 raising the question why. Bart's brother Kevin died within minutes of being shot; his mother Patricia died shortly after the start of her airlift by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. If I were a board member confident of my decisions Id be content to be answerable to the public, Helen: The Derek Severs ep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7geqiz8wb7I https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/severs-roger.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7geqiz8wb7I, The Lindbergh Kidnapping: Forensic Files Lost Episode, Dawn Fehring: A Missionary Dies Too Young, Ron Gillette: An Air Force Man Who Didnt Exactly Aim High. Corrections officers pet. Cliff could sense that she was going downhill rapidly. ", Kent Whitaker said he still loves his son despite what occurred, describing him as a changed person. I just fixed it thx for the heads-up! I agree with every sentiment, especially family members having the deciding vote as to the Death Penalty or not. In this book, Kent Whitaker describes the true story of the murder of his wife and younger son, a trail of events which had been arranged by his older son. It was conducted before a judge[who?] But Rudy Rios couldnt resist a $10,000 reward offered for information on Barts whereabouts. Instead of thanking his lucky stars that his parents bought his story, Bart decided to push his luck again. Bart would later tell ABCs 20/20 that he never felt as though he fit in. [44] Ira Wells, in particular, points to Whitaker's participation in the program to exemplify the questions, declaring Whitaker's prison writing powerful in its ability to "shock readers into a sensory appreciation of the radical strangeness of [his] life lived". He blatantly planned out his parents murder then he ran away in hiding. Required fields are marked *. No long-term commitments or contracts!Birch is giving $200 off ALL mattresses and 2 free eco-rest pillows at BirchLiving.com/killerRight now, Dad Grass is offering our listeners 20% off your first order when you go to DADGRASS.COM/KILLERStart streaming your next obsession. The thought that a man with a gun might still be on the premises did not enter into his consciousness. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott ruled that Thomas "Bart" Whitaker should instead spend the rest of life in jail for masterminding the murders of his mother Tricia, 51, and brother Kevin, 19, at the the family's suburban home in Houston, Texas, in 2003. Please enter valid email address to continue. [16] After closing arguments, the case went to the jury. Behind the door was an intruder wielding Kevins gun, and within seconds the family was ambushed. Newman cautioned jurors that the property, which no one has lived at in over a year, would look different today than it did at the time of the killings. WebThe Whitaker Family Murders True Crime Creepers. Barber said. This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 01:00. Cliff Stanley worked out of his home, so he became closer to Tricia, who was a stay-at-home mother at the time. "I don't have an opinion. Tricia and Kevin sustained fatal chest wounds from the Glock pistol. "Any punishment that I would have or will receive is just, but my dad did nothing wrong. While testifying on the stand last week, Alex admitted to lying repeatedly to investigators, family, and law partners about his whereabouts the night of the killings, but denied ever harming Maggie and Paul. *This particularly an awful crime. Brashear and Champagne were arrested almost two years after murders. In a jailhouse interview with Lisa Ling in 2014, Bart said he committed the murders because he felt inadequate and thought his parents didnt love him. Defense attorney Phillip Barber asked if McManigal took any notes or videotaped his experiments. Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Sugar Land had a practically nonexistent murder rate and Kent would later recall that, when he saw the armed intruder, he figured it was one of his kids friends playing a prank with a paintball gun. [31][non-primary source needed][32][non-primary source needed], Whitaker responded to the commutation of his sentence by saying, "I am thankful for this decision, not for me but for my dad. On December 10, 2003, the Whitaker family -- dad Kent, mom Tricia, and their sons Bart and Kevin -- arrived home after an That Mr Whitaker snr was himself an intended victim makes no material difference in my view: he is simply expressing what many parents in his situation would do, albeit that he has had to overcome the greatest of losses and provocation. "You're trying to take me somewhere you probably don't want to," Crosby said, starting a tense exchange between the attorneys. He could tell by the looks of Tricia that she needed his help much more than Kent. Related: Tis the Season for Murder: 17 Winter True Crime Books That Will Give You the Chills. The system worked for him today. Bart needed a way to ensure his family didn't attend that graduation. [12][third-party source needed] Upon returning home, but before entering the house, Bart said that he needed to collect his cell phone from his parked Yukon[clarification needed], knowing that Brashear was armed and waiting inside to kill his family. Waking nightmare. Hes no longer listed with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was convicted and eventually committed suicide in prison. Cliff turned his attention back to the bleeding Whitaker parents. [2][3] Abbott cited the fact that Whitaker did not fire the gun and that his father, Kent, "insists that he would be victimized again if the state put to death his last remaining immediate family member", as the reasons for the commutation. [14], Whitaker was refused a plea bargain by the District Attorney[who?] He attempted to murder them several times before. [47][48] The name of the blog references "the hour at which executions take place in Texas". It doesnt change what they did and what they have been judged on. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. The nineteen-year-old son of Tricia and Kent Whitaker stopped breathing. Apparently, Barts bloodlust had been brewing for even longer than originally thought. Only two of the Whitakers would surviveand one was responsible for the shooting. Testimony ended Tuesday in the South Carolina double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, as the court prepared to bring jurors on Wednesday to the scene where Murdaugh's wife and son were fatally shot in 2021. Prosecutors brought Crosby back to the stand to talk more aboutMurdaugh stealing millions of dollarsfrom his clients and the firm the Murdaugh family founded more than a century ago. While I am torn over the question whether one fewer execution is better than no fewer, I find that if execution is to remain the ultimate punishment it must be applied strictly impartially unless as a principle it is to collapse in disrepute. WebBart Whitaker was convicted of hiring a hit man to target his own family. Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? But investigators couldnt help but notice that the drawers were all neatly pulled out to the exact same length and nothing had been removed from them. Dirty Deeds This section needs expansion with: a relatively complete list, in chronological order, of all important works by the title subject, especially those referenced herein, for each giving their complete publication details, including date and publisher of its first appearance. The kind-hearted Kent Whitaker forgave Bart and fought for years to stave off his looming execution. This episode does not seem to be shown that often, so I really appreciated the reminder of this case and the update. Forensic Files didnt mention it, but Bart had a prior arrest record for breaking into his high school and stealing computers after which his parents sent him to a private Christian academy, according to the LA Times. Cliff made his way toward Kent. The murders were arranged by Bart Whitaker in an attempt to inherit the family's estate. And, of course, Mr Whitaker snr cannot properly speak for the three dead victims, only himself. Maggie Murdaugh Facebook. Crime time with Tone 192 subscribers Subscribe 88 Share 10K views 1 year ago I visit the resting place and home [40][non-primary source needed] The masters thesis has been subject of some controversy, as someone appears to have offered it as a book for sale (see also below). He then heard the front door to his house open and saw his wife, Darlene, stick her head outside. :https://killerinstinct.supercast.tech/Get 10% Off by visitingBetterHelp.com/instinct!Go stamps.com, click the microphone at the top of the page, and enter code KILLER for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale. He could still be here. She began to moan againonly this time, it seemed more drawn out and painful than before. Try Sundance Now free for 30 days by going to SundanceNow.com and use promo code killerListen to The Generation Why Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or you can listen ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app!If you have any thoughts on this case or any other case, or just want to get in touch with Savannah about the show, email her at killerinstinctpodcast@gmail.com. Serious needling. Brandon walked down the steps and insisted, Then its outside. Thank God Bart is behind bars now, where he can be as lazy as the Texas prison system will allow and the rest of us are safe from him. The couple had two sons, Brandon and Dane, who had gone off to college. Your objectivity impartiality nor fear no favour is applausable. After receiving the news he has been spared execution, Bart Whitaker told prison officials: "I'm thankful not for me but for my dad," reports the Associated Press. Abbott added that Bart Whitaker's father, who "passionately opposes" the execution of his son, would be "victimized again" if the state sentenced his last surviving immediate family member to death. On December 10, 2003 the entire Whitaker family Kent, his wife Tricia, and sons Bart and Kevin were gunned down inside their home in Sugarland, Texas, by a masked man who had been waiting for them inside. In 2007, he admitted he was "100 percent guilty" and that he hated his parents and brother at the time. Whitaker had unknowingly forgiven his own son for But Bart also couldnt have the blood of his family on his own hands. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube. Testimony ended Tuesday in the South Carolina double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, as the court prepared to bring jurors on After deliberation the Fort Bend County jury convicted Whitaker of capital murder,[11] under the Texas law of parties. We did have one murder from the UK on MD/FF have you seen the one about Graham Backhouse? Friend starts singing. Defense attorneys asked that the jury be able to visit the scene of the killings to help them understand how small the storage room is where Paul Murdaugh was killed and the distance between the two bodies. Examples of the prison writing of the title subject, with dates of their first publication, include: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I think you are spot on; especially with the letter you wrote that you posted above. As if, for me, the death penalty isnt capricious enough, cases like this make an utter tragic farce of it. Hes probably hoping this is his ticket to salvation, a la Jack Henry Abbott, another eloquent killer. After the shootings, Bart did a good job of pretending that he was happy that EMTs saved his dads life, but at some point, he told Champagne he wanted to finish off the job and really kill his dad the next time, according to 20/20. And I will do my best to uphold my role in the system. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. On June 7, 2021, The dog kennels and hangar at the Murdaugh family property on March 1, 2023, The entrance to the kennels at the Murdaugh family property on March 1, 2023, A bullet hole in the glass of a window at the Murdaugh family property in Islandton on March 1, 2023, The entrance to the house at the Murdaugh family's property in Islandton, March 1, 2023. But what the Whitakers didnt know was that Bart wasnt going to graduate at all. Explaining his decision, Abbott said: "The murders of Mr. Whitaker's mother and brother are reprehensible. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. As far as an epilogue on Barts accomplices, Chris Alan Brashear occupies a cell in the Eastham Unit and will reach parole eligibility in 2035, when hes 53. Do the undoubted many prisoners facing execution who have personality disorders in some cases substance-induced; in others endogenous, so no fault of their own deserve less because they are (inevitably) non-compliant with prison life? This WAS the case with the Parole Board here in UK until recently, but due to controversial decisions broad reasons are now to be given. He couldnt tell whether he was dead or alive. After all, Bart was graduating from Sam Houston State University with honors. Something like FF/MD based on UK cases would be very good here (a few of the FF/MD cases have been) but its a sad fact (for the US) that the murder rate is much higher than UK so we might be a bit short of subjects! Unfortunately, he was afraid to move her body in case her blood had already started to clot up; he didnt want to break up the clots and cause her to bleed even more. [16] Prosecutors presented evidence that although it wasn't Whitaker who shot his family members, he was responsible for the murders because he played the leading part in the conspiracy to commit the murders[19][bettersourceneeded], The prosecution's theory of motive focused on financial gain, with evidence variously described as pointing to Whitaker standing to inherit "about $1.5million" after the death of his parents and brother,[4] or that he had wanted to capitalize on a million-dollar life insurance payout. [4][11], Chris Brashear received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years for his role in the murders, in a plea bargain worked out with prosecutors; Steven Champagne received 15 years after serving as the main witness for the prosecution. Tricia Whitaker continued to moan in agony. You are a good candidate for governor of Texas. Would-be Waco whackers. WebEvidence shown in Alex Murdaugh's trial for murder shows the Colleton County, South Carolina, property, known as Moselle. "I did not because I felt comfortable with my determination," Riemer said. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter and get our recommended reads delivered straight to your inbox. WebThe gunfire killed Kevin, 19, at the scene; Kents wife of 28 years, Tricia, 51, died during transport to the hospital. Little did Kent, Patricia, and Kevin Whitaker know that their life together was just a house of cards. Instead, Cliff began to pray. (Murderers like to tell war stories, whether they happened or not Michael Peterson and John Boyle.). I cannot comment upon the quantitative status in evaluating his crime that his not being the actual perpetrator should have. He told the police that he would forgive the man who shot his family, not realizing that the man behind it all was his own son. Are you okay?, Im bleeding, Cliff, Kent cried out much louder. Related: Linda Wolfe: The Author Behind the Definitive Book on The Preppy Killer. [18][non-primary source needed], In other early testimony, Steve Champagne described Whitaker recruiting him to be the getaway driver for Whitaker's eventual 2003 plan to murder his immediate family,[11] and his testimony included the detail that Whitaker's gunshot wound was a ploy to make it look like he was a victim, too. Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al. Partners in crime. Cliff spotted Kent Whitaker sprawled out on the concrete front porch next door. Visit BetterHelp.com/CREEPERS today to get 10% off your first month.Sources:ArticlesTexas District & County Attorney's Association | A Most Unusual Suspect (Jeff Strange) CBS News | Texas Man Targeted by a Hitman Fights for the Life of the Person Who Ordered the Murder His Son (Peter Van Sant)ABC News | Murder in the Family: 'I Wanted Them Dead' (Harry Phillips & Elissa Stohler)Forensic Files Now | Bart Whitaker: Relative TragedyABC News | 'Murder by Family': Read Shocking ExcerptThe Houston Chronicle | Whitaker Lawyer Attacks Credibility of Witness (Eric Hansen)ABC News | 'Sugar Land' Culprit Made New Life in Mexico (Denise Martinez-Ramundo & Harry Phillips)Wikipedia | Thomas Bartlett WhitakerMedium | The Whitaker Family Murders of Sugar Land, TexasVideoYouTube | 911: The Sugar Land ConspiracyLearn more about your ad choices. of Texas but thanks all the same! His lawyer Keith Hampton urged the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to remember the Old Testament story of Cain, who killed his brother but was himself spared by God. Blueprint for murder. Whitaker is an eloquent, erudite writer, as his essay Hells Kitchen demonstrates, spiced up with smart literary references and quotes. The defense expert suggested a blast with the weapon's barrel would have stunned the shooter with bone fragments, blood and other gore, delaying the time the shooter could have gone after Maggie Murdaugh. 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