[4], Cooperating with US authorities, Mexican authorities arrested Whitaker without incident under immigration charges. He had transferred from Baylor University in Waco where an informant tipped off police about Barts aborted plan to kill his family in 2001 to Sam Houston State University. He decided it was best to put down his own weapon; however, he knew he had to do something. Abbott ruled that Bart Whitaker will now spend the rest of his life in jail for the "heinous crime". We can agree. 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. Tricia and Kevin died from their gunshot wounds, but Kent survived. 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. What happened? he asked her. The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. Prosecutors have pounded Murdaugh for various inconsistencies and lies, including not saying he was at the kennels the night of the killing when he could be heard heard on video recorded by his son. Texasll probably be the last to lose it if it does! Partners in crime. He went to get his shotgun. 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. Its a very interesting case. Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the horror stories you love. 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. They were also excited to have their eldest son, Brandon, home from college for the holidays. Their oldest son, Bart, whom he had never met, since Bart lived up north in Willis, Texas, was about to graduate on Saturday. It is about to here in UK, as theres been public outcry as some parole decisions* releasing vicious murderers. Bart told first responders that he thought the gunman was black, in order to divert suspicion away from Brashear. Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? The overwhelming forgiveness offered by one victim is not of the order of distinctness necessary. 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. Related: Linda Wolfe: The Author Behind the Definitive Book on The Preppy Killer. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Murdaugh is awaiting trial on about 100 other charges including financial crimes. P.O. Famously, Norman Mailer corresponded with Abbott, praised his writing talent, helped him snag a book deal, and lobbied for his early release. A Young Heir Tries to Hasten His Fortune(Family Interrupted, Forensic Files). 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. Yes! 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. After deliberation the Fort Bend County jury convicted Whitaker of capital murder,[11] under the Texas law of parties. WebMurder in the Family: 'I Wanted Them Dead' Investigators Question Burglary Theory. 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? 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 Besides, he could tell that Kevin was very close to dead. Convenient scapegoat. Cliff tore out of his house and returned to the Whitakers. Well known that the USs neighbour, Canada, has a much lower rate 1.6 raising the question why. Related: Guilt or Innocence: The Shocking Twists of the Sam Sheppard Case. [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. He looked at Kent and asked, What happened?, Kent looked at his friend with pleading eyes and reiterated, Im bleeding, Cliff.. But he arrived to find a real firearm, not a paintball gun, on the scene and four people with one bullet wound each. WebJune 7, 2021: Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh found dead at the family hunting lodge. He blatantly planned out his parents murder then he ran away in hiding. Additional factors make the decision more complex.". [16][17][b] Thanks, Rebecca. remaining immediate family member. 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. 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. What the hell has his being a model prisoner/remorseful/forgiven by the surviving victim (would those who didnt?) Cliff and Darlene looked at one another quizzically. Cliff snapped to and realized that both his wife and Kent were right. Bart is definitely a bad seed. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. McManigal said he tested a similar iPhone in his office last week and determined the backlight comes on with a gentle movement, but not as often with a violet movement. So he hired a hitman to kill his parents and brother, and to non-fatally injure him. 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 Mr. 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. [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. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. As if, for me, the death penalty isnt capricious enough, cases like this make an utter tragic farce of it. And finally, I checked into where Barts young accomplices are today. Rebecca I love your updates, thank you so much for keeping these updates and these cases alive. "[16] The trial judge's[who?] Cliff Stanley worked out of his home, so he became closer to Tricia, who was a stay-at-home mother at the time. [3][29], Abbott accepted their recommendation and commuted Whitaker's death sentence, noting that Whitaker had "voluntarily and forever waived any and all claims to parole in exchange for a commutation of his sentence from death to life without the possibility of parole." He needed to get the hell out of there. "The decision of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is supported by the totality of circumstances in this case. Cliff then heard the screech of police sirens. Patricia was then also shot in the chest, also falling to the floor. [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. 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 I dont know how much MORE evil you can get (except by torturing them first, maybe?) Corey Mitchells true crime book, Savage Son, tells the tragic story of the Whitaker family murders. But Kent didnt die. Rudy ratted him out, and the law hauled Bart back to the U.S. Trio of convicts. Once the jury leaves, one reporter, photographer and videographer will be able to see the property. The main house at the Murdaugh family's Moselle Road property in Islandton, South Carolina, on March 1, 2023. [7] In that same time frame,[when?] [22][non-primary source needed][21] The appeal was certiorari denied. We need more like you! We know little about the family due to the Whitakers secretive nature WebThomas Bartlett "Bart" Whitaker had a loving family that he threw away the night he plotted to have them murdered. WebA Father's Life 10 Years After An Unspeakable Tragedy. :https://killerinstinct.supercast.tech/Get 10% Off by visitingBetterHelp.com/instinct!Go stamps.com, click the microphone at the top of the page, and enter code KILLER for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale. [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. But Bart also couldnt have the blood of his family on his own hands. 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. Until. The Whitakers cash, jewelry, and computer equipment remained untouched. He told the police that he would forgive the man who shot his "Any punishment that I would have or will receive is just, but my dad did nothing wrong. It doesnt change what they did and what they have been judged on. Dr. Ellen Riemer testified Tuesday that she stood by the findings of her autopsy that the fatal shot was fired upward. Police initially thought they had a suspect in an armed robber who struck a different house soon after the Whitaker attack, but bloodhounds didnt pick up his scent at the Whitakers. She was in a kneeling position with her head on the front porch, near the slight step leading into the house. Kent spent lots of time with his sons. I think you are spot on; especially with the letter you wrote that you posted above. Now, Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, 38, convicted in this case, is facing death by lethal injection on Thursday, Feb. 22. But that is not the question. Little did Kent, Patricia, and Kevin Whitaker know that their life together was just a house of cards. You are a good candidate for governor of Texas. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. 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. He and Brandon headed for the front door to see if something was going on. Although Texas very rarely commutes to life-imprisonment for capital sentences there are surely more meritorious than his case. Kent had expressed how excited he and Trish were to attend Barts graduation that next Saturday, and how proud they were of their son. Their mental highlight reel was probably playing footage of an 8-year-old Bart teaching his little brother how to ride a bike. The prosecution also called back cellphone expert Paul McManigal, a sergeant with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. I consider it profoundly wrong that the victim may determine the difference between life (imprisonment) and death, as if the law is not a public entity, answerable to the many, as consistent, proportionate and impartial, not an indirect instrument for the vagaries of passions: anger, revenge, mercy, forgiveness, etc. Whitaker, 38, planned the murders of his family with his roommate, Chris Brashear, who shot the murder victims and Whitakers father, Kent, as they all came home from dinner one evening. Thanks, Monica so glad you liked the piece! 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. 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! 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