There appears little or no question, then, that this was not a fully-considered crime, and, moreover, one that seems to require a peculiar callousness given his relation to the victims. in return for his admission of guilt, and was instead tried for capital murder. Their son had been upstairs in his room when he peeked in on his parents in the living room. [37][verification needed][bettersourceneeded], Kent Whitaker, his father and a surviving victim of the crime, wrote the book, Murder by Family: The incredible true story of a son's treachery and a father's forgiveness, which as described by Barry Leibowitz for CBS News is about his "heart-wrenching journey to forgive the nameless stranger" responsible for his wounding, and the "brutal murder of his wife and son", a journey that included his realizing that the murder "had been orchestrated by [his] oldest son Bart". His voice was barely audible. Bart Whitaker is currently on death row in the Polunsky Unit, a notorious prison in Texas for the murders. 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. Millions of Americans nearing retirement age with no savings, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, South Carolina double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, 100 other charges including financial crimes. He was having a relaxing evening watching television. 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. Famously, Norman Mailer corresponded with Abbott, praised his writing talent, helped him snag a book deal, and lobbied for his early release. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [citation needed] At trial, it was noted that Whitaker had access to an $80,000trust fund from his grandparents, although he testified that he did not know he could access it. [Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, February 17, 2012][34], Whitaker had earlier stated, when his execution was still expected, that he felt that his father would be further victimized by the execution. Related: Guilt or Innocence: The Shocking Twists of the Sam Sheppard Case. As Rebecca describes, heres a privileged man who plotted a number of times to murder at least his parents, eventually achieving death for some of his apparently loving family, for money. Bart never paid his accomplices for their hit man services. But the fact remains that this has been the case for the loved ones of very many executees: they have been hurt by the offenders actions and will be hurt again by his death. The Stanleys were watching a family show. On March 8, 2007, after deliberating for two hours, a jury found Bart Whitaker guilty of murder. Parents provided. 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. Gullible is what I think you could call him. Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. Phones bugged. Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He simply understood that his friend was in trouble and needed his help. [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. The unfurling of this sons web of lies led him to hatch a devious murder plot. Kent then looked up at his neighbor and said, Cliff, they really could be inside there. Bart Whitaker was eventually arrested in Mexico and accused of arranging the plot to inherite the family estate, which he estimated to be worth more than $1 million. Serious needling. Stanley could tell that Tricia was very excited and happy about the impending ceremony. ", "The Governor, the father, and the murderer", "Gov. Are you okay?, Im bleeding, Cliff, Kent cried out much louder. A series of school robberies got him kicked out of high school, and after that a psychiatrist diagnosed him with delusional paranoid disorder. 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. The bag contained a chisel with paint matching that on Kevins gun safe. "You're trying to take me somewhere you probably don't want to," Crosby said, starting a tense exchange between the attorneys. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Hipp said that Kent and Tricia had heard about the plot, but didnt take it seriously. His mother and The lack of consistency in sentencing is puzzling. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. The overwhelming forgiveness offered by one victim is not of the order of distinctness necessary. [49][bettersourceneeded][6], As of 2019, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was investigating a report that Whitaker's masters thesis was being offered for sale, online. He is to be admired. Regardless, he continued holding the temporary bandage on Kents gushing wound. Unfortunately, everything was far from fine at the Whitaker household. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. Im bleeding, Kent Whitaker pitifully mewled. got to do with justice (justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law)? 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, He and Brandon headed for the front door to see if something was going on. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP Randolph Murdaugh III, 81, died just three days after the family tragedy, the law firm said. [16] After closing arguments, the case went to the jury. Yes! He looked up from Tricia into the house, where he spotted someone who he thought was Kevin Whitaker. [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). Whitaker's father, Kent, was also injured in the attack by the actual gunman, Chris Brashear. Also wounded, Bart made a Sugar Land Kinsey testified his opinion was also based on being certain the fatal shotgun wound to Paul Murdaugh was fired from down low and headed up through the head instead of downward with the gun pressed against his head. He took over holding the bloody T-shirt used as a bandage and held it firmly in place. So the couple believed Barts explanation that it was all a joke or misunderstanding when a college friend tipped off police about a murder plot. Cliff rose up to take a look. Tall tale. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. If I were Governor I know I would be seeking reasons to offer clemency but I do not think I could find them in this case As an opposer of execution I would have to come to terms with that. The Whitakers had the cool house to be at and Kent and Tricia were the second parents to so many people, according to Kevins friend Brittany Barnhill, who appeared on the 48 Hours episode The Sugar Land Conspiracy.. I just fixed it thx for the heads-up! 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. Cliff spotted Kent Whitaker sprawled out on the concrete front porch next door. The dad, Kent, survived as did their son, Bart. Nice letter I think Laci Petersons husband is also a good candidate for carrying out the sentence. 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. Still, in an effort to unnerve the young men, police continually made it clear that they were watching them. The Associated Press contributed to this report. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. Barnhill also noted that Kevins friends considered Bart cool.. 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. We know little about the family due to the Whitakers secretive nature He told AP: "As the greatest victim in this case, you don't have to convince me how awful this crime was.". 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. [8]:Ch.50[pageneeded] Whitaker began attending Baylor University in 2001, transferring from there to Sam Houston State University (SHSU), where he was thought by his parents to be in attendance in late 2003, and from which he was expected to graduate. [44], In 2007, Whitaker founded an inmate blog, originally created with the assistance of his father, now maintained by volunteers, entitled Minutes Before Six; it has published his work and trial records, and articles, poetry, and art from inmates held in prisons in the United States. Cliff immediately headed in the direction of Kent Whitaker, his own safety not crossing his mind. But Rudy Rios couldnt resist a $10,000 reward offered for information on Barts whereabouts. Behind the door was an intruder wielding Kevins gun, and within seconds the family was ambushed. [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. The authorities also directed Adam Tripp to try to get Bart to admit he planned his familys murder. Then, a buddy of Barts named Adam Hipp came forward five days after the murders and told police that Bart had tried to enlist him to shoot Barts parents two years earlier. They handed him a death sentence. Patricia was then also shot in the chest, also falling to the floor. The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. As if, for me, the death penalty isnt capricious enough, cases like this make an utter tragic farce of it. At it again. Tricia Whitaker looked up at him, pale and bedraggled, and said, Someone shot us. [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. She was moaning in pain, but still conscious. A Young Heir Tries to Hasten His Fortune(Family Interrupted, Forensic Files). Greg Abbott. But how could parents believe such a thing? Thus, he enjoyed the little time he was able to spend with Kent and Tricia Whitaker. 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. Just hold on tight.. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. "I think his intentions were well, but his methods were flawed," Kinsey said. 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. Their mental highlight reel was probably playing footage of an 8-year-old Bart teaching his little brother how to ride a bike. What he did to so many people," Crosby said, bristling. In 2003, Thomas Bart Whitaker plotted the murder of his family. All of New York loved it redemption by literature! Kent came out with his own book about the shootings and their aftermath, and he travels around the country to speak about forgiveness. Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. 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. Crime time with Tone 192 subscribers Subscribe 88 Share 10K views 1 year ago I visit the resting place and home I dont know how much MORE evil you can get (except by torturing them first, maybe?) Gunman Brashear pleaded guilty to murder in 2007 to murder and is currently serving life in prison. 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. 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. You can help by adding to it. A defense expert said Riemer failed to shave hair from Paul Murdaugh's wound or X-ray his brain after it was blown from his body to confirm her findings. "The decision of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is supported by the totality of circumstances in this case. Used as a bandage and held it firmly in place behind the whitaker family murders was an intruder wielding gun. A bandage and held it firmly in place Whitaker is currently on death in... 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