Cliff and Darlene looked at one another quizzically. Im bleeding, Kent Whitaker pitifully mewled. v. Oliver J. Cliff knew he needed to get assistance for Kent and Tricia. Brashear and Champagne were arrested almost two years after murders. Texas halted Barts execution within hours of his date with a gurney and syringe. got to do with justice (justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law)? He always thought a lot of the youngest son who had returned from his first semester in college at Texas A&M University. Bart needed a way to ensure his family didn't attend that graduation. WebBartlett Whitakers trial began in March 2007. [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. The story takes you 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. Little did Kent, Patricia, and Kevin Whitaker know that their life together was just a house of cards. [22][non-primary source needed][21] The appeal was certiorari denied. A Young Heir Tries to Hasten His Fortune(Family Interrupted, Forensic Files). 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 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. The feed room where Paul Murdaugh's body was found at the Moselle Road property, March 1, 2023. Stanley could tell that Tricia was very excited and happy about the impending ceremony. WebEvidence shown in Alex Murdaugh's trial for murder shows the Colleton County, South Carolina, property, known as Moselle. This seems to me the only potential mitigation against execution. Jail records indicate that Buzzard was arrested on Aug. 25, 2021. The recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and my action on it, ensures Mr. Whitaker will never be released from prison. Red herring. I agree with every sentiment, especially family members having the deciding vote as to the Death Penalty or not. The judge agreed with a defense request to let jurors ride 40 minutes to see the sprawling Colleton County property where the Murdaughs lived. 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. Your email address will not be published. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. Bart Whitaker was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death. As if, for me, the death penalty isnt capricious enough, cases like this make an utter tragic farce of it. But how could parents believe such a thing? 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. "I don't have an opinion. Would-be Waco whackers. Apparently, Barts bloodlust had been brewing for even longer than originally thought. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. It seemed as if there was nothing he could do for his friends. He told the hitman where Kevin kept his gun and asked him to stage a robbery. Kent, hold on to this. 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. Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles They handed him a death sentence. 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. Murdaugh, who has been disbarred, admitted to the thefts, which could carry decades in prison,on the stand last week. Gunman Brashear pleaded guilty to murder in 2007 to murder and is currently serving life in prison. [4] He lived there under the false name for over a year. [citation needed], Brashear then exited through the Whitakers' back door and jumped over the fence into the rear neighbor's yard. [44], 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. / CBS/AP. It is about to here in UK, as theres been public outcry as some parole decisions* releasing vicious murderers. [41][needs update]. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott ruled that Thomas "Bart" Whitaker should instead spend the rest of life in jail for masterminding the murders of his mother Tricia, 51, and brother Kevin, 19, at the the family's suburban home in Houston, Texas, in 2003. Whitaker's parents had bought him several luxury vehicles. In the meantime, a newspaper reporter discovered that Bart never finished college. Prosecutors were against the visit, saying the scene looks different than it did in June 2021 as trees and vegetation has grown and no one has lived on the property since the killings. The unfairness of the situation is, ironically, an argument against the penalty, illustrating unjustness in US criminal practice. Cliff darted up from his wounded neighbor and bolted back toward his home. Judge Clifton Newman ruled earlier this week that the jury would be allowed to visit the scene of the June 2021 killings after Alex's defense team requested that jurors have an opportunity to tour the Moselle Road home so they could get an understanding of spatial relationships as to where the two bodies were found. But from the outside, his home life and social life seemed near perfect. 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. The kind-hearted Kent Whitaker forgave Bart and fought for years to stave off his looming execution. The prosecution also called back cellphone expert Paul McManigal, a sergeant with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Yes! In this case the Texas parole board can make inconsistent decisions and swerve criticism by never giving their reasoning. Prosecutors also called back to the stand the pathologist who did the autopsies on the victims and their expert who studied the crime scene. I decided to write to Travis Runnels #999505, who was executed by the state of Texas 11 December. All to cover up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads? 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. He told the police that he would forgive the man who shot his [12][verification needed][third-party source needed] The trial had lasted six days in total; the "jury deliberat[ed] for 2hours, and sentenced Whitaker to death". to "help convicted criminals become writers", an aim which raises questions about the nature and residence of the power inmates are given, and about its impact on prisoners and on society. Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. 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. Want to keep reading? Brandon Stanley followed directly behind his father. From how the plan was hatched to Barts trial, sentence, and the stunning new development in the case, this book provides all the details. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Kenneth Kinsey said a defense expert who measured the angles of the shots and concluded they were fired closer to the ground or by someone well shorter than the 6-foot-4 (1.93-meter) Murdaugh didn't take into account the shooter and Maggie Murdaugh were both moving and the gun could have been fired from different positions. House of horror. So why did Bart kill the people he supposedly loved? The Associated Press contributed to this report. I cannot comment upon the quantitative status in evaluating his crime that his not being the actual perpetrator should have. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker pleased guilty to plotting the 2003 murders of his family, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Many thanks, Helen so glad youre enjoying the site! This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 01:00. Parents provided. Whitaker was convicted for the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and 19-year-old brother; he was sentenced to death in March2007. ", "The Governor, the father, and the murderer", "Gov. Serious needling. "[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. One of the problems with clemency is that the decision/reasoning is never in the public domain. WebThe Murders: On December 10th, 2003, the Whitakers were out celebrating their son Barts graduation at Sam Houston State. This section needs expansion with: a relatively complete list, in chronological order, of all important works by the title subject, especially those referenced herein, for each giving their complete publication details, including date and publisher of its first appearance. He is to be admired. (Kent also said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear.). Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The couple had two sons, Brandon and Dane, who had gone off to college. No long-term commitments or contracts!Birch is giving $200 off ALL mattresses and 2 free eco-rest pillows at BirchLiving.com/killerRight now, Dad Grass is offering our listeners 20% off your first order when you go to DADGRASS.COM/KILLERStart streaming your next obsession. [35], Thomas Whitaker and other inmates initiated an unsuccessful class action against the State of Texas, addressing the conditions on its death row,[36][non-primary source needed] where inmates are kept in solitary confinement for 23hours a day. [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. True Crime. [16] After closing arguments, the case went to the jury. Greg Abbott has chosen to commute the execution of the Sugar Land man convicted in the 2003 murders of his mother and brother. Cliff made his way toward Kent. He had been the last one to walk into the house; he lagged behind while checking his phone messages. Forensic Files didnt mention it, but Bart had a prior arrest record for breaking into his high school and stealing computers after which his parents sent him to a private Christian academy, according to the LA Times. Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? Past posts on this blog have briefly touched on the Whitaker murders and their aftermath, but a deeper dive seems in order. Its a start. The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. In 2007, he admitted he was "100 percent guilty" and that he hated his parents and brother at the time. 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. WebMurder by Family chronicles Thomas Bartlett Whitaker 's attempts to have a hitman murder his parents and brother. WebThe Whitaker family from Odd, West Virginia, is arguably the most famous inbred family in the United States. 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. Bart told first responders that he thought the gunman was black, in order to divert suspicion away from Brashear. 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. Maggie Murdaugh's iPhone was found on the side of the road outside of the property, and the backlight came on nearly two minutes before GPS data showed Alex Murdaugh's SUV pass by. Marcus, I have never seen such objective view wow. The Stanleys and Whitakers developed a quick, pleasant friendship. Perhaps it should, and has. Cliff could sense that she was going downhill rapidly. Cliff was unsure how that person was doing; that is, until he heard a pitiful sound emanating from the victim. I see theres some pressure in South Africa for its return; thankfully there has never been here since Britain abolished it in the 60s. Last-minute reprieve. Yes! He couldnt tell whether he was dead or alive. This episode does not seem to be shown that often, so I really appreciated the reminder of this case and the update. He argues that he is to be re-made a victim if his son is executed. I respectfully wish to express my agreement with Mr Whitakers scheduled execution next month, which I do with a heavy heart. 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. So, lets get going on the recap of Family Interrupted along with extra information drawn from internet research: Gathering place. Especially when it has been said that capital punishment is punishment for them that dont have the capital. 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