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. [8]:Ch.10[pageneeded], The early testimony from Hipp[when?] Famously, Norman Mailer corresponded with Abbott, praised his writing talent, helped him snag a book deal, and lobbied for his early release. 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. Thats privileged white Justice. Tall tale. [14], Whitaker was refused a plea bargain by the District Attorney[who?] And finally, I checked into where Barts young accomplices are today. Hipp said that Kent and Tricia had heard about the plot, but didnt take it seriously. Two years before a masked assailant shot them in their own house, Kent and Patricia Whitaker found out that their son had formulated a plan to kill them. (Sorry if you already have! "You're trying to take me somewhere you probably don't want to," Crosby said, starting a tense exchange between the attorneys. True Crime Creepers The Whitaker family was in celebration mode - their oldest son, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker, had just finished his final Brandon Stanley followed directly behind his father. [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). E: governor@state.tx.us, Pending Execution of Offender Thomas Whitaker, TDJC Number: 999522, date of birth: 12/31/1979. 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. Mr. Popular. WebBart Whitaker, arranged the murder of his family. Dirty Deeds Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. If the answer is wholly or mainly in the negative, that potential mitigation is removed. Just hold on tight.. The system worked for him today. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. While out having a celebratory dinner, no one in his family [4] He lived there under the false name for over a year. He and his wife, Darlene, had moved into the home just six months earlier. WebJune 7, 2021: Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found dead at the family hunting lodge. I cannot comment upon the quantitative status in evaluating his crime that his not being the actual perpetrator should have. Please enter valid email address to continue. [12][13][pageneeded][third-party source needed] Bart's father Kent survived the shooting in which his wife and son were killed. What the hell has his being a model prisoner/remorseful/forgiven by the surviving victim (would those who didnt?) Murdaugh is charged with killing 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh near kennels on the property on June 7, 2021. The kind-hearted Kent Whitaker forgave Bart and fought for years to stave off his looming execution. He looked at Kent and asked, What happened?, Kent looked at his friend with pleading eyes and reiterated, Im bleeding, Cliff.. Marcus I always enjoy reading your reflection on Rebeccas updates and each episode. Adam had replicated a diagram of the houses layout and where the triggerman was to lie in wait. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. In a statement, Abbott said that this is the first time he has granted commutation of a death sentence in the three years since he took up the role, allowing 30 executions to occur during the same period. Want more true crime books? Bart is definitely a bad seed. Abbott, a Republican in the U.S. state which carries out the most capital punishments, had a choice to reject or accept the board's vote. On December 10, 2003, the Whitaker family -- dad Kent, mom Tricia, and their sons Bart and Kevin -- arrived home after an So he hired a hitman to kill his parents and brother, and to non-fatally injure him. Kent rushed in and was shot in the shoulder with the bullet shattering his humerus. Thats all for this post. She was scared. Your article highlights just what a piece of work Whitaker is. 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. He could still be here. She began to moan againonly this time, it seemed more drawn out and painful than before. 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. [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. The nineteen-year-old son of Tricia and Kent Whitaker stopped breathing. They were also excited to have their eldest son, Brandon, home from college for the holidays. 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. Another case of perverse justice we could name many is Rae Carruth, whom youve covered. Thomas Bartlett Whitaker (born December 31, 1979) is an American man convicted under the Texas Law of Parties of murdering two family members as a 24-year-old. Rebecca I love your updates, thank you so much for keeping these updates and these cases alive. But Kent didnt die. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cliff Stanley worked out of his home, so he became closer to Tricia, who was a stay-at-home mother at the time. 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. It was difficult to tell if it was actually Kevin or Bart, since it was dark inside the house. Instead of thanking his lucky stars that his parents bought his story, Bart decided to push his luck again. As if, for me, the death penalty isnt capricious enough, cases like this make an utter tragic farce of it. The whole scenario took less than ten minutes. First published on February 28, 2023 / 5:23 PM. [7] In that same time frame,[when?] 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. 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. He heard Tricias last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own gunshot wound. [16] Randy McDonald, attorney for the defense, rested their case on the same day, without calling witnesses, and the judge[who?] Kent spent lots of time with his sons. Harpootlian then asked Crosby if he thought Murdaugh killed his wife and son. This post is sponsored by Open Road Media. His mother and Read on for an excerpt of Savage Son and then download the book. Bart also reportedly told them his mother was a prostitute and he was essentially an orphan. Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. WebMurder by Family chronicles Thomas Bartlett Whitaker 's attempts to have a hitman murder his parents and brother. But Bart also couldnt have the blood of his family on his own hands. Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. And thanks Rebecca. I do not support the death penalty but given that it exists in the State, that due process appears to have been followed, and that the offence is in my view and that of the jury egregious, it seems to me gravely important that this punishment execution is applied consistently if it must be applied at all. The bullet hit Kent nearly six inches from his heart.. "Manufacturing Anomie"[citation needed] and the essay "A Nothing Would Do as Well". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McGreavy. The authorities also directed Adam Tripp to try to get Bart to admit he planned his familys murder. [8]:ch.50[pageneeded], On December 10, 2003, Thomas Bartlett "Bart" Whitaker falsely told his family that he had just taken his final university exams and would soon be graduating from SHSU. Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? [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. Cliff spotted Kent Whitaker sprawled out on the concrete front porch next door. Bart. It is for this reason that I would never sign for it, even if that were the only way to evade a return to death row. [26][non-primary source needed] Board Chairman, David G. Gutirrez,[27] also met with Kent Whitaker for a half hour. On March 8, 2007, after deliberating for two hours, a jury found Bart Whitaker guilty of murder. The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. He then heard the front door to his house open and saw his wife, Darlene, stick her head outside. handling of the prosecution's use of a phone recording between Hipp and Whitaker would become an element of the defense's later appeal of the verdict. Champagne explained that he staked out the Whitakers at the graduation dinner at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen where Bart enjoyed bread pudding with Congratulations spelled out in chocolate sauce and called Brashear to let him know when the group left the restaurant. She was in a kneeling position with her head on the front porch, near the slight step leading into the house. Convenient scapegoat. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. I too am writing from UK (maybe you gathered). Learn how and when to remove this template message, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, reliable, independent, third-party sources, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Hell Is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement, "Triggerman in SugarLand slayings pleads guilty", "Clemency rare for death row convicts in Texas", "In rare move, Texas Parole Board recommends clemency for death row inmate Thomas Whitaker", "Is Bartlett Whitaker dead or alive? Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. Related: When Murder Runs in the Family: Frances Schreuder and the Killing of Franklin Bradshaw, Cliffs job as a vice president of a regional insurance marketing company was quite demanding and kept him very busy. Jekyll and Hyde. Whitaker's parents had bought him several luxury vehicles. 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 He was having a relaxing evening watching television. 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. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. As the family started filing into their home, a masked intruder inside began shooting them one by one.This podcast is sponsored by BETTER HELP! She was moaning in pain, but still conscious. From how the plan was hatched to Barts trial, sentence, and the stunning new development in the case, this book provides all the details. Abbott also said he took into account that Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange for a commutation. [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". "I did not because I felt comfortable with my determination," Riemer said. Crime time with Tone 192 subscribers Subscribe 88 Share 10K views 1 year ago I visit the resting place and home 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. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. (Photo: Inside Story) 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 inside for them. It doesnt change what they did and what they have been judged on. Judge Clifton Newman is allowing only the jury, attorneys from both sides, security and police, and a court reporter to come. 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! Instead, he returned back to the Whitakers front porch and attempted to comfort Kent. [4], Cooperating with US authorities, Mexican authorities arrested Whitaker without incident under immigration charges. We know little about the family due to the Whitakers secretive nature Whitaker was convicted for the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and 19-year-old brother; he was sentenced to death in March2007.

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