Help!. Bart was close to 19-year-old Kevin, a college sophomore who looked up to him. Nice letter I think Laci Petersons husband is also a good candidate for carrying out the sentence. The nineteen-year-old son of Tricia and Kent Whitaker stopped breathing. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. 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 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? He needed to get the hell out of there. [16] Hipp, who admitted on cross-examination that his participation in Whitaker's schemes had been "motivated by money" police testified that Whitaker stood to inherit the family estate, valued at $1million further testified that in December2000, prior to the murders of which he stood accused, Whitaker had made another preempted plan, this time to "ambush his parents and brother as they entered their home after a dinner outing", a plan noted by the Houston Chronicle to be "virtually identical to the one [Champagne would soon testify] was actually carried out three years later. We need more like you! But instead of fleeing, Cliff decided he needed some protection of his own. I knew about death row on TV whilst watching the mind of a murderer by Dr Michelle Ward. 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! K: How kind but Im a Brit, so havent a cat in hells chance of being Governator (wasnt that Arnie of California?) [4] His parents funded his academic pursuits. 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. He heard Tricias last, wet coughs as Kent himself lay dying from his own gunshot wound. Cliff and Darlene sat downstairs in the back of their comfortable home, on this particular night. The laudable desire to hear the victim must not become a means of outcome determination of the magnitude of life and death. Many thanks, Helen so glad youre enjoying the site! Now, Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, 38, convicted in this case, is facing death by lethal injection on Thursday, Feb. 22. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. His mother Tricia and brother Kevin died in the shootings on 10 [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). (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool), Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. Just hang in there. Cliff could sense that she was going downhill rapidly. It was conducted before a judge[who?] 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. 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. Kent spent lots of time with his sons. Decisions, as in US, were private, but limited information about decisions will be made public. 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. Texas halted Barts execution within hours of his date with a gurney and syringe. 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. Parents provided. 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. And you are quite right Whitaker had at least two (that we know of) tries; so how doing well in prison makes people seem better is unbelievable. She was scared. You missed something. 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. Bart opening up his graduation gift from his parents on the night of the murders. 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 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. E: governor@state.tx.us, Pending Execution of Offender Thomas Whitaker, TDJC Number: 999522, date of birth: 12/31/1979. In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. [46] Scholarly attention has been directed toward this PEN program, noting that while PEN was an esteemed human rights organization known for the defense of free speech rights, in particular of persecuted writers, the Prison Writing Program presented a distinct agenda, namely in a "[belief] in the restorative and rehabilitative power of writing." [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. Kent rushed in and was shot in the shoulder with the bullet shattering his humerus. The dad, Kent, survived as did their son, Bart. What happened? he asked her. [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. Prosecutors have argued that Alex killed his wife and son to deflect attention and engender sympathy as a series of legal and financial troubles were about to explode. After all, Bart was graduating from Sam Houston State University with honors. I am writing as a member of the public with no connection to the above, his relatives, or his crime. 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. 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. Still, in an effort to unnerve the young men, police continually made it clear that they were watching them. 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. I see theres some pressure in South Africa for its return; thankfully there has never been here since Britain abolished it in the 60s. Whitakers father insists that he would be victimized again if the state put to death the last remaining member of his immediate family, said Gov. [1] He spent years on death row at the Polunsky Unit near Livingston, Texas, before the commutation of his sentence. Jail records indicate that Buzzard was arrested on Aug. 25, 2021. Cliff spotted Kent Whitaker sprawled out on the concrete front porch next door. [4] He lived there under the false name for over a year. From how the plan was hatched to Barts trial, sentence, and the stunning new development in the case, this book provides all the details. Greg Abbott I argue, therefore, for an objective determination as to punishment that disregards the view of family, friends and even victim(s). Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al. I agree with every sentiment, especially family members having the deciding vote as to the Death Penalty or not. He ripped off his T-shirt and placed it on Kents left shoulder. 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. Tricia Whitaker looked up at him, pale and bedraggled, and said, Someone shot us. Someone had pried open his gun safe. Do the undoubted many prisoners facing execution who have personality disorders in some cases substance-induced; in others endogenous, so no fault of their own deserve less because they are (inevitably) non-compliant with prison life? (Murderers like to tell war stories, whether they happened or not Michael Peterson and John Boyle.). He succeeded in annihilating two-thirds of the other Whitakers but, instead of an office visit with an estate attorney, Bart got himself a trial with a judge and jury. Gunman Brashear pleaded guilty to murder in 2007 to murder and is currently serving life in prison. [citation needed], Brashear then exited through the Whitakers' back door and jumped over the fence into the rear neighbor's yard. 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. Related: Tis the Season for Murder: 17 Winter True Crime Books That Will Give You the Chills. Anyway greetings from the UK. He was having a relaxing evening watching television. Miraculously, after being shot in the shoulder, Kent Whitaker survived his attacksomething that Bart hadnt anticipated. I think his father was partly responsible for the death of his wife and son by buying Barts story the first time and not protecting them from him. That factor alone may not warrant commutation for someone like Mr. Whitaker who recruited others to commit murder. Tricia Whitaker continued to moan in agony. [41][needs update]. Its a start. Want to keep reading? Past posts on this blog have briefly touched on the Whitaker murders and their aftermath, but a deeper dive seems in order. Yes! "Any punishment that I would have or will receive is just, but my dad did nothing wrong. 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. 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. You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/KillerInstinctPodcastFollow Savannah on IG: @savannahbrymer 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. Cliff turned his attention back to the bleeding Whitaker parents. No, it wasnt on this TV, Cliff replied. Once the jury leaves, one reporter, photographer and videographer will be able to see the property. This must change. She had previously taught at nearby Lakeview Elementary School and was acting as a volunteer there on occasion. Maggie Murdaugh Facebook. Instead, Cliff began to pray. WebIn the weeks following the murder, the police learned that the attack had been orchestrated by the son who survivedMr. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. 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. Steven testified, and the prosecution stated that Bart tried to put such a plan in motion several times in the past. It was natural instinct. / CBS/AP. WebUpdated on: February 28, 2023 / 7:05 PM / CBS/AP. Yes; perps have been executed for less egregious murder. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. The thought that a man with a gun might still be on the premises did not enter into his consciousness. What the hell has his being a model prisoner/remorseful/forgiven by the surviving victim (would those who didnt?) The Stanleys were watching a family show. 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