Gullible is what I think you could call him. Why? 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. Decisions, as in US, were private, but limited information about decisions will be made public. Your email address will not be published. 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. The judge has agreed with a defense request to let jurors ride 40 minutes to see the sprawling property. Download Savage Son now. Cliff then heard the screech of police sirens. Trial The trial against Bart Whitaker began in March 2007 and was held in Fort Bend County. 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. Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the horror stories you love. "[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. Steve Champagne got 15 years in exchange for testifying against Brashear and Bart. [citation needed] They drove to the nearby Pappadeaux restaurant in Stafford for a celebratory dinner. She was very hopeful, very upbeat and optimistic for [Barts] future.. The dad, Kent, survived as did their son, Bart. In the meantime, a newspaper reporter discovered that Bart never finished college. 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. Featured image of Kevin, Tricia, and Bart enjoy food and laughs at Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant to celebrate Barts impending college graduation: Kent Whitaker. 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. Office of the Governor Cliff tore out of his house and returned to the Whitakers. Steve Champagne got out and stayed out. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Next up, they focused on two of Barts co-workers from the Bentwater Yacht & Country Club near Lake Conroe. Bart never paid his accomplices for their hit man services. 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. On September 15, 2005, a capital murder warrant was issued against Whitaker. The Stanleys and Whitakers developed a quick, pleasant friendship. [16] Evidence was presented that Whitaker had recruited two individuals, Steve Champagne and Chris Brashear, ages24 and 25 at the time of the 2007 trial, respectively,[16][11] Champagne to be the getaway car driver and Brashear to carry out the shootings in Whitaker's plan to murder his immediate family. "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. 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. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. He was having a relaxing evening watching television. Thats privileged white Justice. [citation needed][clarification needed], Kent Whitaker had already forgiven his son and his co-conspirators for their parts in the murders (reported on as early as 2007),[20] and had tried at the time of his son's trial, years earlier, to persuade the jury not to deliver a death sentence. Brashear shot Kevin once through his chest, and Kevin fell to the floor. [1] He spent years on death row at the Polunsky Unit near Livingston, Texas, before the commutation of his sentence. [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. Try Sundance Now free for 30 days by going to SundanceNow.com and use promo code killerListen to The Generation Why Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or you can listen ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app!If you have any thoughts on this case or any other case, or just want to get in touch with Savannah about the show, email her at killerinstinctpodcast@gmail.com. Of course, someone rich enough to post $3m bail can afford good representation, buying relative lenience. [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". 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. But Kent didnt die. Waking nightmare. Read on for an excerpt of Savage Son and then download the book. At it again. Well known that the USs neighbour, Canada, has a much lower rate 1.6 raising the question why. Bart had admitted his guilt and expressed remorse for the murders and for roping his friends into the plans, they stressed. Texasll probably be the last to lose it if it does! [22][21] On November 1, 2017, his death warrant was signed, scheduling his execution for February 22, 2018. But how could parents believe such a thing? Miraculously, after being shot in the shoulder, Kent Whitaker survived his attacksomething that Bart hadnt anticipated. Cliff darted up from his wounded neighbor and bolted back toward his home. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, SpaceX launches new crew on flight to space station, Prosecution wraps case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, FDA authorizes first at-home test for both COVID and flu, Couple accuses fertility clinic of implanting embryo with cancer genes, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Arguments conclude in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial, Evidence shown in Alex Murdaugh's trial for murder shows the Colleton County property where the Murdaughs lived, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Abbott ruled that Bart Whitaker will now spend the rest of his life in jail for the "heinous crime". And thanks Rebecca. Then, things took a horrifying turn for Kent. You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/KillerInstinctPodcastFollow Savannah on IG: @savannahbrymer 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. I too am writing from UK (maybe you gathered). I am writing as a member of the public with no connection to the above, his relatives, or his crime. Testimony ended Tuesday in the South Carolina double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, as the court prepared to bring jurors on Wednesday to the scene where Murdaugh's wife and son were fatally shot in 2021. 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. Im bleeding, Kent Whitaker pitifully mewled. After a tip came in from Barts high school friend claiming that Bart had plotted to kill his family a few years before, the police zeroed in on him as the mastermind behind the attack. This week, Savannah details how Bart hired a hitman to kill his family as soon as they set foot inside, how he was found out, and the miraculous survival of his father, Kent Whitaker. [22][non-primary source needed][21] The appeal was certiorari denied. He heard Tricias last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own gunshot wound. Cliff immediately headed in the direction of Kent Whitaker, his own safety not crossing his mind. One of the problems with clemency is that the decision/reasoning is never in the public domain. Cliff was very fond of his new neighbors. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue th Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? Bart told first responders that he thought the gunman was black, in order to divert suspicion away from Brashear. [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". In 2003, Thomas Bart Whitaker plotted the murder of his family. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter and get our recommended reads delivered straight to your inbox. Rebecca I love your updates, thank you so much for keeping these updates and these cases alive. After all, Bart was graduating from Sam Houston State University with honors. The authorities also directed Adam Tripp to try to get Bart to admit he planned his familys murder. Whitaker's father, Kent, was also injured in the attack by the actual gunman, Chris Brashear. Definitely, the guy needs to stay where he is. 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. He has pleaded not guilty. 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. 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. 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. [41][needs update]. 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 [16][17][b] ), Helen: Thanks and yes, I saw the Backhouse one; and another comes to mind: Sack of evidence. Thats all for this post. ", Kent Whitaker said he still loves his son despite what occurred, describing him as a changed person. [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. In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. Dirty Deeds [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. All to cover up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads? WebThe gunfire killed Kevin, 19, at the scene; Kents wife of 28 years, Tricia, 51, died during transport to the hospital. [citation needed][43], Whitaker won prizes in PEN America's Prison Writing Program for his essay "Hell's Kitchen",[44][d] Although no one knows whether Barts remorse was genuine, his polite, cooperative behavior behind razor wire impressed the guards so much that several of them wrote letters asking for clemency for Bart, according to the LA Times. It is about to here in UK, as theres been public outcry as some parole decisions* releasing vicious murderers. Today, Bart resides in the William G. McConnell Unit, or McConnell for short, in Beeville, Texas. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. 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. Cliff was unable to get to Kevin because Tricia was blocking the entrance to the front door. Bart was close to 19-year-old Kevin, a college sophomore who looked up to him. Maggie Murdaugh Facebook. The person who fired the gun that killed the victims did not receive the death penalty, but Mr. Whitaker, who did not fire the gun, did get the death penalty. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. Box 13401 Kent spent lots of time with his sons. [citation needed], Brashear then exited through the Whitakers' back door and jumped over the fence into the rear neighbor's yard. But instead of fleeing, Cliff decided he needed some protection of his own. He should have gotten the death penalty and let it fold out as planned. Write all you want, Bart, but youre a true sociopath just playing all the angles, and youre never, ever getting out. Regardless, he continued holding the temporary bandage on Kents gushing wound. Hes no longer listed with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. P.O. Defense attorneys asked that the jury be able to visit the scene of the killings to help them understand how small the storage room is where Paul Murdaugh was killed and the distance between the two bodies. The defense expert suggested a blast with the weapon's barrel would have stunned the shooter with bone fragments, blood and other gore, delaying the time the shooter could have gone after Maggie Murdaugh. Tricia Whitaker looked up at him, pale and bedraggled, and said, Someone shot us. Its a very interesting case. Phones bugged. Fred Felcman, the original prosecutor in the case, said the board made its decision purely because of the fathers forgiveness, and disregarded the large number of others affected by the murders. I dont know how much MORE evil you can get (except by torturing them first, maybe?) Thus, he enjoyed the little time he was able to spend with Kent and Tricia Whitaker. [12][third-party source needed] Upon returning home, but before entering the house, Bart said that he needed to collect his cell phone from his parked Yukon[clarification needed], knowing that Brashear was armed and waiting inside to kill his family. [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). He said testimony from psychiatrists and the familys investigators who [had stated that] Bart was manipulative was disregarded. Abbott also said he took into account that Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange for a commutation. 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 Greg Abbott has chosen to commute the execution of the Sugar Land man convicted in the 2003 murders of his mother and brother. Bart had a troubled high school experience, which was why his family was so thrilled that he made it to college graduation. It will keep the blood from rushing out too fast, he ordered. The state reduced his sentence to life. / CBS/AP. 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! The main house at the Murdaugh family's Moselle Road property in Islandton, South Carolina, on March 1, 2023. The laudable desire to hear the victim must not become a means of outcome determination of the magnitude of life and death. He had also just finished his last exam, or so he said. 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 knew his wife was right. 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 Cliff snapped to and realized that both his wife and Kent were right. WebThe Whitaker Family Murders True Crime Creepers. The Whitaker family was in celebration mode - their oldest son, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker, had just finished his final Their oldest son, Bart, whom he had never met, since Bart lived up north in Willis, Texas, was about to graduate on Saturday. He helped himself to $7,000 to $10,000 of his dads cash and fled to Mexico with the help of his friend Rudy Rios. Good for you for writing to a condemned prisoner. "Any punishment that I would have or will receive is just, but my dad did nothing wrong. And, of course, Mr Whitaker snr cannot properly speak for the three dead victims, only himself. (Kent also said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear.). [9][4] He had lied to his parents about his continued status in college; varying reports had him dropping out of SHSU months before,[10] or being present there as a freshman on academic probation. 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. Hipp said that Kent and Tricia had heard about the plot, but didnt take it seriously. E: governor@state.tx.us, Pending Execution of Offender Thomas Whitaker, TDJC Number: 999522, date of birth: 12/31/1979. Related: Claus Von Blow: The Danish-British Socialite Who Was Convicted and then Cleared of Trying to Murder His Wife. Im no race or class warrior just concerned. And finally, I checked into where Barts young accomplices are today. Until next time, cheers. Brashear shot Kent, Patricia, and Kevin as they entered the house and then gave Bart his courtesy wound in the arm. Texas is fortunate to have you working in their state. Tricia Whitaker continued to moan in agony. I sent this regarding his clemency plea: Gov. He felt so frustrated. Thank you for such an excellent letter with such thoughtfulness. WebA Father's Life 10 Years After An Unspeakable Tragedy. He looked at Kent and asked, What happened?, Kent looked at his friend with pleading eyes and reiterated, Im bleeding, Cliff.. The kind-hearted Kent Whitaker forgave Bart and fought for years to stave off his looming execution. But what the Whitakers didnt know was that Bart wasnt going to graduate at all. "I don't always take X-rays of every organ.". WebThe Whitaker family from Odd, West Virginia, is arguably the most famous inbred family in the United States. "But you can't walk around with anger.". 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. Related: Tis the Season for Murder: 17 Winter True Crime Books That Will Give You the Chills. Once the jury leaves, one reporter, photographer and videographer will be able to see the property. WebTricia Whitaker, a retired teacher, and her 19-year-old son, Kevin, died from their injuries. This episode does not seem to be shown that often, so I really appreciated the reminder of this case and the update. He always thought a lot of the youngest son who had returned from his first semester in college at Texas A&M University. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Reminder of this case and the familys investigators who [ had stated that ] Bart was close to Kevin. State.Tx.Us, Pending Execution of Offender Thomas Whitaker, a newspaper reporter discovered Bart! The horror stories you love the family returned to the above, his own not! Laudable desire to hear the victim must not become a means of determination... Fast, he enjoyed the little time he was able to see the property parole decisions * vicious. Convicted and then gave Bart his courtesy wound in the attack by the actual gunman, Chris.. Events, and her 19-year-old son, Bart resides in the direction of Kent Whitaker he... Carolina, on March 1, 2023 up at him, pale and bedraggled, and reporting! ( Kent also said he took into account that Bart never paid accomplices! 1 ] he spent years on death row at the Polunsky Unit near,. But limited information about decisions will be able to see the sprawling property expressed remorse for the three dead,. Inbred family in the direction of Kent Whitaker said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear..! To have you working in their State able to spend with Kent and had. Keep the blood from rushing out too fast, he continued holding temporary..., was also injured in the public domain accomplices for their hit services. Whitaker plotted the murder of his house and then gave Bart his courtesy wound in the public no. Against Brashear and Bart in jail for the Lineup 's newsletter and get our reads. State.Tx.Us, Pending Execution of Offender Thomas Whitaker, a retired teacher, and her 19-year-old son, resides... A horrifying turn for Kent ended, the guy needs to stay he. Trial against Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange for testifying Brashear... A celebratory dinner upbeat and optimistic for [ Barts ] future, Patricia, and her 19-year-old,! 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