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. Cops secretly tapped Brashears and Champagnes phones, but they never picked up any incriminating conversations. Bart's brother Kevin entered the family home first and reportedly smiled when he saw the masked Brashear. Its a very interesting case. (a common Forensic Files pathology see Barbara Stager and Mark Winger.). 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. Decisions, as in US, were private, but limited information about decisions will be made public. K: How kind but Im a Brit, so havent a cat in hells chance of being Governator (wasnt that Arnie of California?) Greg Abbott As far as an epilogue on Barts accomplices, Chris Alan Brashear occupies a cell in the Eastham Unit and will reach parole eligibility in 2035, when hes 53. 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. So the couple believed Barts explanation that it was all a joke or misunderstanding when a college friend tipped off police about a murder plot. He and Brandon headed for the front door to see if something was going on. E: bpp_pio@tdcj.texas.gov. Austin, Texas 78711-3401 Bart Whitaker was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death. A neighbor named Cliff Stanley raced onto the scene and used his own T-shirt to stanch Kents bleeding bullet wound. 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. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Kent, hold on to this. Cliff snapped to and realized that both his wife and Kent were right. [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. [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. Texas Gov. It irrevocably denies any possibility of rehabilitation; it eviscerates hope entirely. [16][17][b] He went through with it even after having two years to think about what his family meant to him following his first attempt to murder them. Investigators found out that in addition to Barts 2001 and 2003 attempts to eliminate his family, there was at least one prior plot: In 2000, Bart had a couple of his Baylor acquaintances break into the Whitakers home to kill them, but the henchmen fled when an alarm went off, according to an AP account. He always thought a lot of the youngest son who had returned from his first semester in college at Texas A&M University. And I will do my best to uphold my role in the system. It was difficult to tell if it was actually Kevin or Bart, since it was dark inside the house. In this case the Texas parole board can make inconsistent decisions and swerve criticism by never giving their reasoning. The main house at the Murdaugh family's Moselle Road property in Islandton, South Carolina, on March 1, 2023. He shouldve got life for murder and causing severe, permanent harm to his unborn child but served just 18 years. WebThe tour of the crime scene happened before jurors were to head back to court in Walterboro to hear closing arguments in the closely watched murder trial. 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. He looked up from Tricia into the house, where he spotted someone who he thought was Kevin Whitaker. The Whitakers cash, jewelry, and computer equipment remained untouched. You need to go. [7] In that same time frame,[when?] Of course, someone rich enough to post $3m bail can afford good representation, buying relative lenience. But from the outside, his home life and social life seemed near perfect. Rebecca I love your updates, thank you so much for keeping these updates and these cases alive. But what the Whitakers didnt know was that Bart wasnt going to graduate at all. He took over holding the bloody T-shirt used as a bandage and held it firmly in place. [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. [11] Early evidence was presented that Whitaker had previously recruited others in abortive plots to murder his family, plots involving a co-conspirator named Adam Hipp, who had attended Clements High School with Whitaker. Friend starts singing. Thanks, Monica so glad you liked the piece! [citation needed] Whitaker had enlisted an individual named Chris Brashear to carry out the shootings, and a Steven Champagne to be the getaway driver for Brashear. Prosecutors brought Crosby back to the stand to talk more aboutMurdaugh stealing millions of dollarsfrom his clients and the firm the Murdaugh family founded more than a century ago. Kent, Cliff called out to his friend. He had also just finished his last exam, or so he said. [28][full citation needed], On February 20, 2018, in a rare decision, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that the death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment,[29] The seven-member Board unanimously recommended clemency to Republican Governor Greg Abbott,[30][29] the first time it had done so unanimously since 2009. While I am torn over the question whether one fewer execution is better than no fewer, I find that if execution is to remain the ultimate punishment it must be applied strictly impartially unless as a principle it is to collapse in disrepute. Cliff bent his head and said a silent prayer for Kevin. During cross-examination, Harpootlian asked Crosby, who often represents accident victims, if going through trauma can cause people to forget details or get times wrong. The crime deserves severe punishment for the criminals who killed them. Help!. 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). Suddenly Cliff saw his friend lurch sideways and mutter something. Just how he thought hed get away with it I think underlines his feelings of superiority. Behind the door was an intruder wielding Kevins gun, and within seconds the family was ambushed. While out having a celebratory dinner, no one in his family He attempted to murder them several times before. Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed Maggie and Paul to buy time to cover up the money trail. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Defense attorney Phillip Barber asked if McManigal took any notes or videotaped his experiments. 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! :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. 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. ", "The Governor, the father, and the murderer", "Gov. For Whitaker was convicted for the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and 19-year-old brother; he was sentenced to death in March2007. If it is to make a difference there must be distinct characteristics of this case, which I cannot discern. He has pleaded not guilty. [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 shooting occurred after Kent and Patricia Whitaker returned home with their sons on December 10, 2003, having been out celebrating Bart Whitaker's college graduation. Texas is fortunate to have you working in their state. Download Savage Son now. Barber said. Parents provided. Murdaugh, who has been disbarred, admitted to the thefts, which could carry decades in prison,on the stand last week. Whitaker had unknowingly forgiven his own son for ), Helen: Thanks and yes, I saw the Backhouse one; and another comes to mind: https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/severs-roger.htm (dont know the FF title). 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. Marcus I totally agree. Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years. Mr. Popular. WebMiraculously, after being shot in the shoulder, Kent Whitaker survived his attacksomething that Bart hadnt anticipated. Updated on: February 28, 2023 / 7:05 PM Champagne also drove the getaway car although, he claimed, he really didnt want to get involved with the homicide plot but felt trapped. 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 You missed something. Whitaker's parents had bought him several luxury vehicles. 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). Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. So why did Bart kill the people he supposedly loved? After deliberation the Fort Bend County jury convicted Whitaker of capital murder,[11] under the Texas law of parties. [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." Learn how and when to remove this template message, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, reliable, independent, third-party sources, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Hell Is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement, "Triggerman in SugarLand slayings pleads guilty", "Clemency rare for death row convicts in Texas", "In rare move, Texas Parole Board recommends clemency for death row inmate Thomas Whitaker", "Is Bartlett Whitaker dead or alive? [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. Steven testified, and the prosecution stated that Bart tried to put such a plan in motion several times in the past. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. Corrections officers pet. "[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. got to do with justice (justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law)? Red herring. [4] His parents funded his academic pursuits. When they arrived, Bart remained outside to call his girlfriend while his mother, Trish, his father, Kent, and his brother, Kevin, all went to the front door. Abbott also said he took into account that Bart Whitaker voluntarily waived all claims for parole in exchange for a commutation. Kent rushed in and was shot in the shoulder with the bullet shattering his humerus. When Cliff witnessed the carnage before him, he yelled back at his son, Go back inside and call 911! Marcus I always enjoy reading your reflection on Rebeccas updates and each episode. I just fixed it thx for the heads-up! Related: The Case of Michael Petersona Perfect Husband, or the Staircase Murderer? 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. In his haste to exit the scene, Brashear gathered up Barts cellphone instead of the gun. WebBartlett Whitakers trial began in March 2007. We did have one murder from the UK on MD/FF have you seen the one about Graham Backhouse? Can it be fair and reasonable that one persons execution is applied because he happens not to have family/friends to lobby for him, a victim not ideologically opposed to execution and/or forgiving, etc but another is spared because he does have such representation and a victim differently-minded? The Whitakers had the cool house to be at and Kent and Tricia were the second parents to so many people, according to Kevins friend Brittany Barnhill, who appeared on the 48 Hours episode The Sugar Land Conspiracy.. Rebecca I couldnt find it, but it would be great if you reviewed it! Corey Mitchells true crime book, Savage Son, tells the tragic story of the Whitaker family murders. And finally, I checked into where Barts young accomplices are today. His mother and Hello Helen: Thanks so for your kind remarks and I wholly agree re Rebeccas posts! Whitakers father, Kent, also was shot in the 2003 plot at the familys suburban Houston home but survived and led the effort to save his son from execution. It doesnt change what they did and what they have been judged on. 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. Over here in the UK, CBS Reality shows these episodes as Medical Detectives, and seem to show the same ones quite regularly. 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. 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. [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. Whatever awful things weve done, kindness and mercy in the form of showing this man that he isnt forgotten while he contemplates that most terrible of punishments, is always right. [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." [11], Whitaker appealed his death sentence, suggesting nine points of error. The system worked for him today. Barnhill also noted that Kevins friends considered Bart cool.. He went inside, determined to find his weapon, which he did. 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. Parole in exchange for a commutation one in his family he attempted murder. Bend County jury convicted Whitaker of capital murder, [ when? and Winger... The thefts, which I can whitaker family murders discern never giving their reasoning to graduate all! 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