[citation needed] They drove to the nearby Pappadeaux restaurant in Stafford for a celebratory dinner. 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. I dont oppose it absolutely (ie, I cant claim it to be unquestionably wrong in cases where there is no question of guilt); but because (i) its unequally applied even between cases of certainty in the same state; (ii) it costs a fortune to execute someone due to necessary legal safeguards money that could be better spent; (iii) it typically takes at least 15 yrs to do it often much longer making it something of a farce; (iv) it harshly punishes the innocent loved ones of the perp, victimising them just as the perps victims loved ones were, it makes little sense. [verification needed] The State of Texas executes by overdosing the condemned with pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy, and Whitaker's defense lawyers had claimed the state's first two executions of 2018 were botched because of old lethal injection drugs. Rios got Bart settled in the town of Cerralvo, where he soon found a girlfriend and got a job at a furniture store owned by her family, according to 48 Hours. For A series of school robberies got him kicked out of high school, and after that a psychiatrist diagnosed him with delusional paranoid disorder. [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. As an NBC account later quoted a Whitaker lawyer: He watched his son Kevin walk into the house, heard the first and fatal shot, and saw his sons fallen body in their darkened home. Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. 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. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al. This episode does not seem to be shown that often, so I really appreciated the reminder of this case and the update. WebUpdated on: February 28, 2023 / 7:05 PM / CBS/AP. I decided to write to Travis Runnels #999505, who was executed by the state of Texas 11 December. Police first checked out Adam Hipp himself as a suspect, but he had an alibi for the night of the shooting. [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. Thanks Rebecca I love the way you write, and its great that you can follow-up on some of the information that we cant access in the UK (I always try to google what happened to people in the programme). Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He and Bart enjoyed biking long distances together. Waking nightmare. "I have had anger with him, extreme anger, Mr. Harpootlian, because what he did with my law firm, my partners, his clients, our clients what he did to his family. 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. After all, Bart was graduating from Sam Houston State University with honors. Hes probably hoping this is his ticket to salvation, a la Jack Henry Abbott, another eloquent killer. Nor am I moved by a persons progress in prison. WebThe Whitaker Family Murders True Crime Creepers. The nineteen-year-old son of Tricia and Kent Whitaker stopped breathing. 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 v. Oliver J. If it is so considered, my question would be: insofar as there are similar crimes, has this fact materially distinguished execution from life imprisonment in some of those cases? ", Kent Whitaker said he still loves his son despite what occurred, describing him as a changed person. Your article highlights just what a piece of work Whitaker is. Bart had a troubled high school experience, which was why his family was so thrilled that he made it to college graduation. Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles WebHey there freaky fam! Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. Money tangled. (Kent also said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear.). It turned out the gun was registered to Kevin Whitaker. Thanking you for your kind attention and with all good wishes for your work and the difficult and sometimes painful decisions you have to make, The Chairman So why did Bart kill the people he supposedly loved? [23], Whitaker's defense team lodged an appeal focused on the purity of drugs used in Texas executions in 20172018. Bart didnt specifically refer to any plot, but a phone call recording caught him trying to bribe Adam to keep quiet in return for $20,000. He felt so frustrated. Both victims appeared to be surprised with their hands down. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Nice letter I think Laci Petersons husband is also a good candidate for carrying out the sentence. I heard yelling and shooting, Brandon stated. 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. Brashear shot Kent, Patricia, and Kevin as they entered the house and then gave Bart his courtesy wound in the arm. 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. Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al. The seven-member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously to commute the sentence. 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. "The decision of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is supported by the totality of circumstances in this case. Convenient scapegoat. This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 01:00. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. That is, if it is a scandal that anyone is judicially executed, it is so if some are and some are not merely given the contingency of special pleading. Jurors on Wednesday visited the family hunting lodge where Alex Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul were killed as prosecutors made their closing arguments in the weekslong murder trial against the South Carolina lawyer.. Judge Clifton Newman ruled earlier this week that the jury would be allowed to visit the scene of the June 2021 killings after Cliff snapped to and realized that both his wife and Kent were right. Abbott accepted the state parole boards rare clemency recommendation. That factor alone may not warrant commutation for someone like Mr. Whitaker who recruited others to commit murder. Bart told first responders that he thought the gunman was black, in order to divert suspicion away from Brashear. Cliff was unsure how that person was doing; that is, until he heard a pitiful sound emanating from the victim. Austin, Texas 78711-3401 Her legs and lower body were pointed outward toward the street. 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. I understand theres a steady drift away from the DP in the US. [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. Cliff hustled back to his house, stormed inside, and began yelling to Brandon, I need something to stop the bleeding! Their son had been upstairs in his room when he peeked in on his parents in the living room. Yes; perps have been executed for less egregious murder. 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. If it is to make a difference there must be distinct characteristics of this case, which I cannot discern. He then heard the front door to his house open and saw his wife, Darlene, stick her head outside. E: bpp_pio@tdcj.texas.gov. Once the jury leaves, one reporter, photographer and videographer will be able to see the property. 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. WebThomas 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. I think this needs to change because in matters of life and death the public has a right to know why, when X has been adjudged by a jury as deserving of death, a panel not unanswerable to the public makes a private decision to overturn. 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". (Murderers like to tell war stories, whether they happened or not Michael Peterson and John Boyle.). Now, Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, 38, convicted in this case, is facing death by lethal injection on Thursday, Feb. 22. [citation needed] In addition, they purchased a lakeside townhouse in Willis, Texas, for his use, and a $4,000 Rolex watch was given to him as a college graduation present hours before the murders. He went to get his shotgun. WebThe Mysterious Saga of the Whitaker Family Murders Family Shot in the Chest. The recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and my action on it, ensures Mr. Whitaker will never be released from prison. There was a light on in the foyer, which provided him with his only illumination. [4][5], Thomas Bartlett Whitaker was born on December31, 1979, to father Kent, the comptroller of a construction company, and mother Patricia (Trish), an elementary school teacher. [16][18] At the trial, Hipp stated that he had contacted the SugarLand Police Department with information about previous plots after he heard about the Whitaker family murders 2003; he was given immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying for the prosecution against Whitaker. WebIn the weeks following the murder, the police learned that the attack had been orchestrated by the son who survivedMr. Box 13401 This seems to me the only potential mitigation against execution. "But you can't walk around with anger.". Whitaker was Crime time with Tone 192 subscribers Subscribe 88 Share 10K views 1 year ago I visit the resting place and home WebIn 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. The story takes you through the sequence of events from the moment the family return home from a celebratory meal, through the shooting and the eventual trial of his one remaining son. Bring me something so we can bandage Kent up! He waited as long as he could, but his son never came out with anything to staunch the flow of blood. Its a start. Now! Brandon took off back to the house to make the call. Cliff immediately headed in the direction of Kent Whitaker, his own safety not crossing his mind. [8]:Ch.10[pageneeded], The early testimony from Hipp[when?] Miraculously, after being shot in the shoulder, Kent Whitaker survived his attacksomething that Bart hadnt anticipated. Im no race or class warrior just concerned. It doesnt change what they did and what they have been judged on. Ive been troubled for many years by the death penalty, in a country (US) in which justice (equality before the law) sometimes appears to be bought, or which otherwise privileges the white middle-class. (Sorry if you already have! Jekyll and Hyde. But Rudy Rios couldnt resist a $10,000 reward offered for information on Barts whereabouts. WebThe Murders: On December 10th, 2003, the Whitakers were out celebrating their son Barts graduation at Sam Houston State. Cliff was very fond of his new neighbors. Tanya also accompanied Kent for court proceedings related to Barts fate. The whole scenario took less than ten minutes. The prosecution also called back cellphone expert Paul McManigal, a sergeant with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. "You're angry at him for stealing your money," Harpootlian said. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices. (a common Forensic Files pathology see Barbara Stager and Mark Winger.). In February 2018, each of the seven board members separately voted to commute Barts sentence, and the governor concurred. [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. "I did not because I felt comfortable with my determination," Riemer said. Tall tale. WebAlex Murdaughs son Buster describes family relationship at fathers double-murder trial February 21, 2023 12:51 PM Day 21: Murdaughs defense revives two-shooter theory as Apparently, Barts bloodlust had been brewing for even longer than originally thought. The murders were arranged by Bart Whitaker in an attempt to inherit the family's estate. I dont care how much perps have changed, repent, or are model prisoners: the worst crimes, like his, should mean whole-life because theyve earned the punishment they got (inc Whitaker). Web(Mark Sims for Fox News Digital) Prosecutors have argued that Alex Murdaugh used a shotgun to kill his son, Paul, 22, and a rifle to execute his wife, Maggie, 52, near the property's dog Cliff darted up from his wounded neighbor and bolted back toward his home. I argue, therefore, for an objective determination as to punishment that disregards the view of family, friends and even victim(s). Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the horror stories you love. While out having a celebratory dinner, no one in his family could've imagined the horror that waited for them when they got back home. [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". [2][3] As of September 2021, Whitaker resided in the McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas. [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. In his haste to exit the scene, Brashear gathered up Barts cellphone instead of the gun. 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. But that is not the question. In 2003, Thomas Bart Whitaker plotted the murder of his family. Behind the door was an intruder wielding Kevins gun, and within seconds the family was ambushed. I dont want you getting shot.. A Young Heir Tries to Hasten His Fortune(Family Interrupted, Forensic Files). They bought him a townhouse to live in while he was supposed to be attending college and gave him a Rolex for his faux graduation. Its telling that Bart offered no real excuse for arranging the murder of his family. 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. The state reduced his sentence to life. 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. WebBart Whitaker was convicted of hiring a hit man to target his own family. Stanley could tell that Tricia was very excited and happy about the impending ceremony. Defense attorney Phillip Barber asked if McManigal took any notes or videotaped his experiments. 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. 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. He said testimony from psychiatrists and the familys investigators who [had stated that] Bart was manipulative was disregarded. 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. In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. Well known that the USs neighbour, Canada, has a much lower rate 1.6 raising the question why. I understand that Mr Whitakers father is requesting your clemency. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. Only a month after his release, Abbott stabbed and killed a restaurant waiter over a trivial bathroom dispute. But from the outside, his home life and social life seemed near perfect. Police believe that while the Whitakers were out celebrating, Brashear entered the house, pried open the safe, and made an attempt at giving the master bedroom a ransacked look. Part of the problem is parole boards dont justify their reasoning/decisions to the public (knowing theyd be controversial) but its the public they are answerable to, just as justice in general is, as all such agencies operate with the permission of the public, ultimately (who pay for it all). (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. She had previously taught at nearby Lakeview Elementary School and was acting as a volunteer there on occasion. Kent has since spearheaded the campaign to save his son from execution. [citation needed] For the latter, he appears to have presented a thesis in partial fulfillment of the degree, entitled "Who Fears Hell Runs Toward It", in summer2018. Greg Abbott This post is sponsored by Open Road Media. [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. [citation needed] The trial began in March 2007, led by prosecutor Fred Felcman. 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. Investigators also found it troubling that a picture of Bart taken at the graduation dinner showed him giving the finger (although Id file that one in the kids like to make obscene gestures, no big deal folder). Brd. remaining immediate family member. Before the sentencing phase, both Kent Whitaker and Tricia Whitakers brother asked that Bart be spared the death penalty. At it again. He began to load the shotgun with bullets when his wife stepped in front of him. He had a good start better than most prisoners. Someone had pried open his gun safe. [4] He lived there under the false name for over a year. Files ) legs and lower body were pointed outward toward the street was doing ; that is, until heard... 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