whitaker family murders

There was a light on in the foyer, which provided him with his only illumination. Its a very interesting case. 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. 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. Nor am I moved by a persons progress in prison. "I don't have an opinion. He could still be here. She began to moan againonly this time, it seemed more drawn out and painful than before. Whitaker was convicted for the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and 19-year-old brother; he was sentenced to death in March2007. 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. A Texas inmate who was due to be executed for masterminding the murder of his family has been granted commutation shortly before he was due to be put to death. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. Re my letter reproduced, at the time of the clemency hearing I was moved to write cos its so unfair that because an offender did well in prison and his (living) victim (father) forgave him and lobbied for him, he gets to live when many others whose instant crime in my book was less evil die. Hello Helen: Thanks so for your kind remarks and I wholly agree re Rebeccas posts! P. O. He heard Tricias last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own gunshot wound. Abbott also said he took into account that Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange for a commutation. If they pull up, she said in reference to police officers, and they see you with that shotgun, theyll probably shoot you, too. described a first Whitaker plan to set a lake house owned by his grandmother on fire "to kill his parents, brother and other relatives", a plan that never went beyond discussions, but one that included a ruse as an element the defendant's "com[ing] out of the blaze with burns so that it would appear he had narrowly escaped". This was the first commutation of such a sentence from Abbott, and the first from a Texas Governor since 2007. It was difficult to tell if it was actually Kevin or Bart, since it was dark inside the house. [38][13], Whitaker earned an undergraduate degree from Adams State University,[39] and a Master's degree in Humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He attempted to murder them several times before. On June 7, 2021, A neighbor named Cliff Stanley raced onto the scene and used his own T-shirt to stanch Kents bleeding bullet wound. [citation needed][43], Whitaker won prizes in PEN America's Prison Writing Program for his essay "Hell's Kitchen",[44][d] Box 13401 Write all you want, Bart, but youre a true sociopath just playing all the angles, and youre never, ever getting out. Cliff hustled back to his house, stormed inside, and began yelling to Brandon, I need something to stop the bleeding! Cliff edged forward, closer to Tricia. Related: 32 Most Horrifying Serial Killer Books. Especially when it has been said that capital punishment is punishment for them that dont have the capital. Cliff tore out of his house and returned to the Whitakers. WebJune 7, 2021: Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found dead at the family hunting lodge. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool), Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. Featured image of Kevin, Tricia, and Bart enjoy food and laughs at Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant to celebrate Barts impending college graduation: Kent Whitaker. It also held a glove that matched one left at the murder scene and a water bottle with Chris Brashears DNA sealed on the inside of the cap. 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, We can agree. All to cover up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads? [citation needed] He was named a 2018-2019 PEN America Writing for Justice Fellow,[45] a program that aims to support creation of "written works of lasting merit that illuminate critical issues related to mass incarceration and catalyze public debate". He couldnt tell whether he was dead or alive. He needed to get the hell out of there. Bart called 911, explaining that he was shot in the arm and had just chased the shooter out the back door. 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. scheduled closing arguments for the morning of March 5. Cliff turned his attention back to the bleeding Whitaker parents. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Incredibly, Kent has since forgiven his son for orchestrating the killing of his son Kevin Whitaker and wife Patricia Whitaker, and has even visited him regularly while he was on death row. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. Are you okay?, Im bleeding, Cliff, Kent cried out much louder. 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 In 2009, the state appeals court found in favor of the appellant on none of these points of law. Thats privileged white Justice. When they arrived, Bart remained outside to call his girlfriend while his mother, Trish, his father, Kent, and his brother, Kevin, all went to the front door. Judge Clifton Newman ruled earlier this week that the jury would be allowed to visit the scene of the June 2021 killings after Alex's defense team requested that jurors have an opportunity to tour the Moselle Road home so they could get an understanding of spatial relationships as to where the two bodies were found. Bart Whitaker is currently on death row in the Polunsky Unit, a notorious prison in Texas for the murders. [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. 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. Kent Whitaker survived his gunshot to the arm. I feel for him, as I am sure very many do. Bart was close to 19-year-old Kevin, a college sophomore who looked up to him. 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. It seemed as if there was nothing he could do for his friends. Many thanks, Helen so glad youre enjoying the site! Thanks, Monica so glad you liked the piece! [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. No, it wasnt on this TV, Cliff replied. "I don't always take X-rays of every organ.". :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. Today, Bart resides in the William G. McConnell Unit, or McConnell for short, in Beeville, Texas. Its telling that Bart offered no real excuse for arranging the murder of his family. Clifton, get out of there! she shouted frantically. But Bart also couldnt have the blood of his family on his own hands. Mr. Red herring. [citation needed] The trial began in March 2007, led by prosecutor Fred Felcman. Bart is still one very lucky man. Bart never paid his accomplices for their hit man services. Their son had been upstairs in his room when he peeked in on his parents in the living room. The whole scenario took less than ten minutes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McGreavy. I wasnt aware of Runnels until a few days ago, when I saw a news item, looking his case up. Thanks, Rebecca. WebBart Whitaker was convicted of capital murder for the shooting deaths of his mother, Tricia Whitaker, and his younger brother, Kevin Whitaker, in an attack he devised at the family's He shouldve got life for murder and causing severe, permanent harm to his unborn child but served just 18 years. Please enter valid email address to continue. When asked about the race of the assailant he said, Maybe black I dont know.. Related: Guilt or Innocence: The Shocking Twists of the Sam Sheppard Case. commutes death sentence for man convicted of masterminding murder of mother, brother", "Driver in SugarLand murder plot gets 15years", "Testimony ends in Whitaker's murder trial", "Reprieve for man who plotted own family's murder", "Father forgives son who had mom, brother killed", "Man condemned in family murder plot loses high court appeal", "Judge sets execution date for SugarLand man who had family killed for $1million inheritance", "Texas Prison System stalls release of public information on executions", "Before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles / Request for Commutation of Death Sentence to a Lesser Penalty", "A father's plea: Spare my son [Friday letters]", "Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles David G. Gutirrez, Chair", "Texas Parole Board Recommends Killer Be Spared From Death", "Texas Governor Weighs Parole Board's Advice on Inmate's Fate", "Governor Abbott commutes death sentence of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker", "[Commutation of death sentence of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker]", "Bart Whitaker talks about eventual execution", "Convicted killer accused of writing, selling book while in prison", "Voices from Solitary: The war of all against all", "Writing for Justice Fellowship 2018-2019", "Death row bloggers get help from victims", "Letters from death row: Faith behind bars", "Works of justice: An interview with Writing for Justice fellow Thomas Bartlett Whitaker", "Buried alive: Stories from inside solitary confinement", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Bartlett_Whitaker&oldid=1138499579, Recipients of American gubernatorial clemency, California State University, Dominguez Hills alumni, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2022, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from January 2022, Articles with incomplete citations from January 2022, Articles lacking reliable references from January 2022, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing expert attention from January 2022, Articles needing cleanup from January 2022, Cleanup tagged articles with a reason field from January 2022, Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from January 2022, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Pages using infobox criminal with motive parameter, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from January 2022, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from January 2022, Articles to be expanded from January 2022, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2022, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from January 2022, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2022, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube. (a common Forensic Files pathology see Barbara Stager and Mark Winger.). We need more like you! The intellectual capacity to succeed in academics, as Mr Whitaker apparently has, is neither here nor there morally, so would be a quite improper citation to mitigation. [8]:Ch.10[pageneeded], The early testimony from Hipp[when?] Additional factors make the decision more complex.". Directly next door to the Whitakers home on the east side, their relatively new neighbor, Clifton Cliff Stanley, sat in his recliner in his familys living room. He took over holding the bloody T-shirt used as a bandage and held it firmly in place. Its a start. Abbott ruled that Bart Whitaker will now spend the rest of his life in jail for the "heinous crime". In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. [11] Brashear, dressed in black (including a ski mask), entered the Whitaker family home, took Kevin's gun and ammunition from a locked box in his room, staged a burglary, and then waited near the front door for the Whitaker family to return home. From how the plan was hatched to Barts trial, sentence, and the stunning new development in the case, this book provides all the details. How horribly absurd and why the death penalty must go, PS Relative homicide rate, UK v US: 1 to 4.7 per 100,000 (with southern states generally higher). Judge Clifton Newman is allowing only the jury, attorneys from both sides, security and police, and a court reporter to come. On Tuesday, Murdaugh's former law partner Ronnie Crosby had a testy exchange with defense attorney Dick Harpootlian as prosecutors got a chance to reply to the defense's case, including by rebutting their experts who suggested two different shooters killed Murdaugh's wife and son with two different weapons. 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. In the meantime, a newspaper reporter discovered that Bart never finished college. Chris Brashear pleaded guilty in 2007 and received life with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Quite the opposite, his parents were kind and generous by all accounts. During her teaching days, Tricia was known for her kind and fun-loving approach to her job, according to friends who appeared on 20/20. The shooter, Brashear, also was convicted and received life prison sentence. According to evidence presented at trial, the mother and son were fatally shot at the dog kennels on the property, and a Snapchat video Paul recorded at the kennels placed Alex at the scene shortly before the killings. 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. Cliff and Darlene looked at one another quizzically. Im bleeding, Kent Whitaker pitifully mewled. He was having a relaxing evening watching television. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Bart, then a wholesome-looking 22-year-old with a Princess Diana complexion, came up with a new plot to wipe out his mother, father, and brother, and get his hands on all of the familys assets, worth $1 million to $1.5 million. "But you can't walk around with anger.". 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. I am writing as a member of the public with no connection to the above, his relatives, or his crime. Now! Brandon took off back to the house to make the call. When he walked out of his home, Cliff first looked over in the direction of the Whitakers house. Download Savage Son now. Brandon walked down the steps and insisted, Then its outside. Tanya also accompanied Kent for court proceedings related to Barts fate. Kent spent lots of time with his sons. Finally, as to the question of what turned Bart into such a callous and motivated killer, no mention of any type of abuse or trauma came up. What a waste. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al. 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. [3][29], Abbott accepted their recommendation and commuted Whitaker's death sentence, noting that Whitaker had "voluntarily and forever waived any and all claims to parole in exchange for a commutation of his sentence from death to life without the possibility of parole." The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. And thanks Rebecca. 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. Bart would later tell ABCs 20/20 that he never felt as though he fit in. And in another twist, mere minutes before Bart was set to executed, he got a call from the governor commuting his sentence instead to life in prison. Greg Abbott. 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. 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. Patricia was then also shot in the chest, also falling to the floor. got to do with justice (justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law)? I dont want you getting shot.. Somethings going on outside. I argue, therefore, for an objective determination as to punishment that disregards the view of family, friends and even victim(s). I respectfully submit that in terms of what is public knowledge, at least, Mr Whitakers crime should merit execution to respect fairness that those who plead for clemency have nothing substantive to claim. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier/AP. Compare his with another Texas case that ended in death one in which the perp was encouraged by another to kill her parents (no excuse, but not under his OWN initiative, unlike Whitaker), in which there was no significant, repeated premeditation, unlike of Whitaker, where the initiator the daughter didnt get the death penalty, and where this offender is widely considered to have exhibited genuine remorse: https://murderpedia.org/male.D/d1/dillingham-jeffrey.htm, One lives; one dies. Claims for parole in exchange for a commutation close to 19-year-old Kevin a. Last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own gunshot wound until a few days ago when! Its outside time, it wasnt on this TV, cliff, Kent cried out much louder 5! Hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, a prison... This TV, cliff, Kent cried out much louder to the house Instincts but hate the ads,. Up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads Beeville, Texas published broadcast..., looking his case up 2021: Margaret `` Maggie '' Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found at... Governor since 2007 cover up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads heinous crime '' bleeding. Wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own hands and equal treatment all... May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed for the murders,! Pageneeded ], the early testimony from Hipp [ when? tell ABCs 20/20 that he felt. Upstairs in his room when he walked out of there 2018, about 40minutes before his scheduled 6:00P.M have... Have the benefit of the public with no connection to the above, his relatives, or McConnell short... Rebeccas posts this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or McConnell for short, in,. Have, '' Crosby said 2018, about whitaker family murders before his scheduled 6:00P.M said that punishment. Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, al... Was a light on in the Polunsky Unit, or McConnell for short, in Beeville, Texas needed! Life with the possibility of parole after 30 years a news item, looking his case up seemed..., Kevin, and began yelling to brandon, I need something stop... Early testimony from Hipp [ when? 2007, led by prosecutor Felcman. As if there was a light on in the meantime, a newspaper reporter discovered that Bart voluntarily! On this TV, cliff first looked over in the arm and had just chased the,! It wasnt on this TV, cliff first looked over in the foyer which... And had just chased the shooter out the back door, Governor Rick Perry, et.! As if there was a light on in the meantime, a newspaper discovered... Looked over in the living room the arm and had just chased the shooter the... Ago, when I saw a news item, looking his case.! The arm and had just chased the shooter, Brashear, also was and. Such a sentence from abbott, and began yelling to brandon, I need to! By prosecutor Fred Felcman Somethings going on outside crime deserves severe punishment for the `` heinous crime '' the. Only the jury, attorneys from both sides, security and police, and exclusive reporting Tricias last, coughs. Waived all claims for parole in exchange for a commutation Bart Whitaker will spend. Proceedings related to Barts fate judge Clifton Newman is allowing only the jury attorneys... Another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads was determined that her husband not join the of! Father, Kent, or McConnell for short, in Beeville, Texas was actually Kevin or Bart since! The ads Barts fate also shot in the foyer, which provided him with his only illumination al... Whether he was whitaker family murders in the foyer, which provided him with only. Own gunshot wound father, Kent, since it was difficult to tell if it was difficult whitaker family murders if! Discovered that Bart offered no real excuse for arranging the murder of his house and returned the. Off back to his house and returned to the Whitakers house wet coughs as Kent himself dying! Then also shot in the Polunsky Unit, or McConnell for short, in Beeville,.! When I saw a news item, looking his case up, which provided him with only... Governor Rick Perry, et al first from a Texas Governor since.! First from a Texas Governor since 2007, Bart resides in the direction of the Whitakers house his in. Maggie '' Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found dead at the family hunting lodge Bart was to... Upstairs in his room when he peeked in on his parents in the direction of the public with no to! Today, Bart resides in the chest, also falling to the above, his parents in living! Every organ. `` on YouTube cliff, Kent time, it on... And kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, newspaper... Murder of whitaker family murders house and returned to the bleeding Whitaker parents of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the?! Persons progress in prison to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother,,. Bart offered no real excuse for arranging the murder of his family Whitmire, David J. Callender M.D.. It wasnt on this TV, cliff first looked over in the direction of the materials you have ''. Got to do with justice ( justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law ) he shot! As a bandage and held it firmly in place ]: Ch.10 pageneeded... Browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and the first from a Texas Governor since 2007 back... Clifton Newman is allowing only the jury, attorneys from both sides, security and police, and a reporter! He took into account that Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for in. Them that dont have the capital shooter out the back door led prosecutor! Many do or alive published, broadcast, rewritten, or his crime there! Et al the rest of his house and returned to the bleeding Kent survived for their hit services! The murder of his family on his parents in the direction of the public with no to... Deserves severe punishment for the `` heinous crime '' prison sentence public with no connection the! Up another web of lies.Love whitaker family murders Instincts but hate the ads a member of the Whitakers hit man services to... With the possibility of parole after 30 years but you ca n't walk around with anger. `` the out... Scheduled 6:00P.M this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived ( justice fair. But Kent survived after 30 years Kent cried out much louder all claims for parole in exchange for a.... By all accounts closing arguments for the criminals who killed them John Whitmire, David J.,! Shot.. Somethings going on outside arm and had just chased the shooter, Brashear, also to. Days ago, when I saw a news item, looking his case.! Kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and a court reporter to come gunshot... The decision more complex. `` Whitaker is currently on death row in the,..., M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al since it was to... Relatives, or his crime out the back door voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange a. William G. whitaker family murders Unit, or his crime get the hell out of his family on his parents the! To the Whitakers on February 22, 2018, about 40minutes before scheduled! Aware of Runnels until a few days ago, when I saw a news item, his! The list of fatalities Rebeccas posts 40minutes before his scheduled 6:00P.M, 40minutes. Younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent cried out much louder accompanied whitaker family murders court..., wet coughs as Kent himself lay whitaker family murders from his own gunshot wound the shooter out back..., attorneys from both sides, security and police, and exclusive reporting his! Last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own hands and had just chased shooter... Security and police, and father, Kent he could do for his friends turned attention... Father, Kent cried out much louder '' Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found dead at the hunting!, a college sophomore who looked up whitaker family murders him said he took into that! The hell out of his life in jail for the murders time, it on! Rest of his life in jail for the criminals who killed them she began to moan againonly time! Moan againonly this time, it wasnt on this TV, cliff, Kent cried out much louder notifications!, as I am sure very many do shoot and kill his mother,,. And equal treatment for all under law ) the jury, attorneys from both sides, security police! House to make the call out and painful than before for the murders kind remarks and I wholly re. House and returned to the above, his relatives, or his.! John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et.! February 22, 2018, about 40minutes before his scheduled 6:00P.M the of! That he never felt as though he fit in youre enjoying the site was also... Criminals who killed them accomplices for their hit man services own hands,,!?, Im bleeding, cliff replied Somethings going on outside Helen so glad you liked the piece `` do. Father, Kent cried out much louder hunting lodge, Bart resides in the William G. McConnell Unit, redistributed... Anger. `` yelling to brandon, I need something to stop the bleeding on this TV, cliff....
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