[4] His parents funded his academic pursuits. He and his wife, Darlene, had moved into the home just six months earlier. But his state, California,has an unofficial moratorium on execution which is absurd when the State still sentences to death. Kent came out with his own book about the shootings and their aftermath, and he travels around the country to speak about forgiveness. That factor alone may not warrant commutation for someone like Mr. Whitaker who recruited others to commit murder. [2][3] As of September 2021, Whitaker resided in the McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas. Then, Brashear entered a getaway car driven by Champagne, and they dumped the bag with the murder items in the water. The overwhelming forgiveness offered by one victim is not of the order of distinctness necessary. Bart. WebGetty. Then, things took a horrifying turn for Kent. In December 2003, Whitaker's mother Tricia Whitaker, brother Kevin Whitaker, and father Kent Whitaker were ambushed by a masked gunman as they walked in the front door of their Sugar Land home after a night out. This site uses cookies to improve user experience. "The reason you did not take X-rays of the brain was you already reached you conclusion," Harpootlian said. Another case of perverse justice we could name many is Rae Carruth, whom youve covered. Perhaps it should, and has. Cliff edged forward, closer to Tricia. I feel for him, as I am sure very many do. He told the police that he would forgive the man who shot his Parents provided. Their oldest son, Bart, whom he had never met, since Bart lived up north in Willis, Texas, was about to graduate on Saturday. WebBart Whitaker: Relative Tragedy A Young Heir Tries to Hasten His Fortune (Family Interrupted, Forensic Files) Two years before a masked assailant shot them in their own The Whitaker family was in celebration mode - their oldest son, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker, had just finished his final exam at Sam Houston State University, he'd soon be walking the stage, and his parents, Tricia and Kent, and brother, Kevin, were so excited for him. He also paid someone to drive the getaway car for the assailant, while Bart would stay on the scene and pretend as though he had fought the intruder off himself. Rebecca I couldnt find it, but it would be great if you reviewed it! I just fixed it thx for the heads-up! Yes; perps have been executed for less egregious murder. Regardless, he continued holding the temporary bandage on Kents gushing wound. Bart's brother Kevin entered the family home first and reportedly smiled when he saw the masked Brashear. And I will do my best to uphold my role in the system. ", "The Governor, the father, and the murderer", "Gov. The murders were arranged by Bart Whitaker in an attempt to inherit the family's estate. Someone had pried open his gun safe. Bart Whitaker was found guilty of capital murder that occurred on Dec. 10, 2003, when an assailant entered the Whitaker home in the Sugar Lakes subdivision and killed Barts mother, Trisha, 56 years old, and his brother, Kevin, 19. [18][non-primary source needed] [18], After losing a separate appeal in the federal courts early in 2017,[21] Whitaker's legal team appealed his claims to the U.S. Supreme Court. Look toward those you are closest with in hopes that everything is fine with them. Mr. Whitaker, 38, planned the murders of his family with his roommate, Chris Brashear, who shot the murder victims and Whitakers father, Kent, as they all came home from dinner one evening. Cliff was unsure how that person was doing; that is, until he heard a pitiful sound emanating from the victim. Until next time, cheers. Cliff thought Kevin was a special kid.. During Wednesday's visit, at least one juror was spotted by a pool reporter closely examining the door frame of the storage closet or feed room where Paul was standing when he was killed, the Associated Press reported. Police first checked out Adam Hipp himself as a suspect, but he had an alibi for the night of the shooting. WebMurder by Family chronicles Thomas Bartlett Whitaker 's attempts to have a hitman murder his parents and brother. The hurting of the innocent in executing their loved ones is one consideration in the legitimacy of capital punishment but it cannot arbitrarily apply to this case and not so many others that it has not done, nor will do. WebHey there freaky fam! We did have one murder from the UK on MD/FF have you seen the one about Graham Backhouse? Homicide detective Marshall Slot, who appeared on both Forensic Files and the 20/20 episode about the murders, recalled that he thought the operator was joking when she said a shooting of four people had taken place in Sugar Land. Cliff darted up from his wounded neighbor and bolted back toward his home. Related: 32 Most Horrifying Serial Killer Books. He banned drones from flying over. I understand that Mr Whitakers father is requesting your clemency. [8]:Ch.53[pageneeded] Whitaker denied prosecution claims regarding the insurance profit motive, arguing that the only life insurance policy the family had was for $50,000 on his father's life. On September 15, 2005, a capital murder warrant was issued against Whitaker. Apparently he skipped a lot of classes, then stopped going entirely, and blew his tuition funds on some form or recreation; its not clear what kind. [8]:Ch.10[pageneeded], The early testimony from Hipp[when?] He fled to Mexico after learning that he was a suspect, assumed a new identity, and lived under the radar for over a year before he was caught and was extradited back to the United States. 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. Chris Brashear pleaded guilty in 2007 and received life with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/KillerInstinctYTDont forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: http://bit.ly/KillerInstinctPodcastIf you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! Besides, he could tell that Kevin was very close to dead. Kent has since spearheaded the campaign to save his son from execution. I am South African. *This particularly an awful crime. The killers might still be inside their house! She was frightened to tears and was determined that her husband not join the list of fatalities. Champagne also drove the getaway car although, he claimed, he really didnt want to get involved with the homicide plot but felt trapped. https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/severs-roger.htm (dont know the FF title). rested the case for the prosecution in the capital murder trial for Thomas Bartlett Whitaker's role in the deaths of his brother and mother. Bart Whitaker, it seems, was born rather than made a sociopath. Abbott ruled that Bart Whitaker will now spend the rest of his life in jail for the "heinous crime". For Miraculously, after being shot in the shoulder, Kent Whitaker survived his attacksomething that Bart hadnt anticipated. His mother and You need to go. They handed him a death sentence. The prosecution also called back cellphone expert Paul McManigal, a sergeant with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. [35], Thomas Whitaker and other inmates initiated an unsuccessful class action against the State of Texas, addressing the conditions on its death row,[36][non-primary source needed] where inmates are kept in solitary confinement for 23hours a day. But Kent didnt die. WebTricia Whitaker, a retired teacher, and her 19-year-old son, Kevin, died from their injuries. You are a good candidate for governor of Texas. Crime time with Tone 192 subscribers Subscribe 88 Share 10K views 1 year ago I visit the resting place and home The recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and my action on it, ensures Mr. Whitaker will never be released from prison. Explaining his decision, Abbott said: "The murders of Mr. Whitaker's mother and brother are reprehensible. He then heard the front door to his house open and saw his wife, Darlene, stick her head outside. Brashear and Champagne were arrested almost two years after murders. The whole scenario took less than ten minutes. [citation needed], On Friday, March 2, 2007, the State of Texas[who?] 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. Required fields are marked *. On February 22, 2018, about 40minutes before his scheduled 6:00P.M. execution, Whitaker had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment without parole by Governor Greg Abbott, the first such commutation by Abbott and the first in the state since 2007. I think his father was partly responsible for the death of his wife and son by buying Barts story the first time and not protecting them from him. remaining immediate family member. WebMurder in the Family: 'I Wanted Them Dead' Investigators Question Burglary Theory. On December 10, 2003, the Whitaker family was celebrating the college graduation of their eldest son, Thomas Bartlettknown as Bart, with dinner at a local seafood restaurant. According to a Houston Chronicle account, after an emotional, contentious 12 hours during which some jurors at first disagreed about whether Bart constituted a continuing threat to society, Bart got a sentence of death by lethal injection. The authorities also directed Adam Tripp to try to get Bart to admit he planned his familys murder. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker pleased guilty to plotting the 2003 murders of his family, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Thats all for this post. On December 10, 2003, the Whitaker family was celebrating the college graduation of their eldest son, Thomas Bartlettknown as Bart, with dinner at a local seafood restaurant. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al. Faithful father. Barber said. Does a low-achieving prisoner deserve less consideration over a matter he has no control over (intellectual capacity)? When asked about the race of the assailant he said, Maybe black I dont know.. Want more true crime books? He succeeded in annihilating two-thirds of the other Whitakers but, instead of an office visit with an estate attorney, Bart got himself a trial with a judge and jury. I consider it profoundly wrong that the victim may determine the difference between life (imprisonment) and death, as if the law is not a public entity, answerable to the many, as consistent, proportionate and impartial, not an indirect instrument for the vagaries of passions: anger, revenge, mercy, forgiveness, etc. 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. According to his statements and the evidence gathered, Bart Whitaker intended to murder his parents and younger brother in order to keep the family estate. I respectfully wish to express my agreement with Mr Whitakers scheduled execution next month, which I do with a heavy heart. 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. The Stanleys and Whitakers developed a quick, pleasant friendship. I dont know how much MORE evil you can get (except by torturing them first, maybe?) A series of school robberies got him kicked out of high school, and after that a psychiatrist diagnosed him with delusional paranoid disorder. He was convicted and eventually committed suicide in prison. Divers recovered it. WebTexas 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, Cliff was very fond of his new neighbors. / CBS/AP. WebBartlett Whitakers trial began in March 2007. Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the horror stories you love. He described her as just a very, very sweet person.. 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. Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed Maggie and Paul to buy time to cover up the money trail. [41][needs update]. Where is he now? Prosecutors have pounded Murdaugh for various inconsistencies and lies, including not saying he was at the kennels the night of the killing when he could be heard heard on video recorded by his son. Nice letter I think Laci Petersons husband is also a good candidate for carrying out the sentence. [citation needed], Brashear then exited through the Whitakers' back door and jumped over the fence into the rear neighbor's yard. Police attempted to arrest her wife, Naria Jenna Whitaker, 33, later that the same day at the couple's home in Marion, Indiana, but Whitaker died by suicide, shooting herself shortly after police arrived, the Outlook reported. The couple had two sons, Brandon and Dane, who had gone off to college. Both victims appeared to be surprised with their hands down. Bart is definitely a bad seed. Help!. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. He took over holding the bloody T-shirt used as a bandage and held it firmly in place. He could tell by the looks of Tricia that she needed his help much more than Kent. He looked up from Tricia into the house, where he spotted someone who he thought was Kevin Whitaker. "[33] Whitaker had previously stated his strong opposition to the idea of life without the possibility for parole, and wrote in his blog from prison:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, [Life without parole], however, offends and assaults everything I believe in. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. McManigal said he tested a similar iPhone in his office last week and determined the backlight comes on with a gentle movement, but not as often with a violet movement. Thank you for such an excellent letter with such thoughtfulness. At night, when Kent would return home from his job at the Bartlett Construction Company, the couples would congregate out in the front yard and catch up on the days events. The state reduced his sentence to life. [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). Let me see what I can do, Cliff attempted to calm his neighbor. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. [22][21] On November 1, 2017, his death warrant was signed, scheduling his execution for February 22, 2018. Definitely, the guy needs to stay where he is. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. There was a light on in the foyer, which provided him with his only illumination. Although opposed to the death penalty, I thought him a proper candidate for it on the ground of consistency with those whose lives were taken for crimes no worse. Steven testified, and the prosecution stated that Bart tried to put such a plan in motion several times in the past. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Dirty Deeds Prosecutors were against the visit, saying the scene looks different than it did in June 2021 as trees and vegetation has grown and no one has lived on the property since the killings. Cliff knew his wife was right. The defense also used their experts to suggest there were two shooters, based in part on common sense that the victims stopped using their cellphones within seconds of each other. Amanda H. Great follow-up story, Rebecca. Your email address will not be published. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. WebBart Whitaker was convicted of hiring a hit man to target his own family. He could still be here. She began to moan againonly this time, it seemed more drawn out and painful than before. WebJurors in the trial of accused killer Alex Murdaughs toured Moselle, the family property where prosecutors say the 54-year-old former lawyer gunned down his wife and son in 2021. Marcus I always enjoy reading your reflection on Rebeccas updates and each episode. Stanley could tell that Tricia was very excited and happy about the impending ceremony. But instead of fleeing, Cliff decided he needed some protection of his own. Cliff tore out of his house and returned to the Whitakers. 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! Brashear was the shooter, he said, and Bart had promised to cut both of his buddies in on a $1 million life insurance payout he would receive after his familys death. Box 13401 [5][6][a], Whitaker attended Clements High School where in 1997 as a 17-year-old he received a criminal conviction for a series of seven burglaries that he had "meticulous[ly]" planned, leading other young friends in the spree. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. Your email address will not be published. Whitakers father, Kent, also was shot in the 2003 plot at the familys suburban Houston home but survived and led the effort to save his son from execution. The bullet hit Kent nearly six inches from his heart.. Judge Clifton Newman is allowing only the jury, attorneys from both sides, security and police, and a court reporter to come. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube. Can it be fair and reasonable that one persons execution is applied because he happens not to have family/friends to lobby for him, a victim not ideologically opposed to execution and/or forgiving, etc but another is spared because he does have such representation and a victim differently-minded? I agree: killing a wife and mother-to-be two deaths is child-murder in my book (or near to) and should be treated as such. During cross-examination, Harpootlian asked Crosby, who often represents accident victims, if going through trauma can cause people to forget details or get times wrong. He quickly moved back and leaned over Kent to see how he could help. Thanks, Monica so glad you liked the piece! 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. Of distinctness necessary he travels around the country to speak about forgiveness that her husband not join the list fatalities... 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