Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the horror stories you love. In return, Bart agreed to give up any rights to parole. I dont care how much perps have changed, repent, or are model prisoners: the worst crimes, like his, should mean whole-life because theyve earned the punishment they got (inc Whitaker). Box 12428 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. While testifying on the stand last week, Alex admitted to lying repeatedly to investigators, family, and law partners about his whereabouts the night of the killings, but denied ever harming Maggie and Paul. [3], Alongside the legal submission from the Whitaker legal team an 18-page document from Whitaker lawyers Keith S. Hampton and James Rytting (the latter at Hilder & Associates),[25][non-primary source needed] Whitaker's father, Kent, also appealed, cooperating with the legal team's submission and writing a letter in the public forum of the Houston Chronicle on January 18, 2018, asking that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles "spare my son". 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. In 2009, the state appeals court found in favor of the appellant on none of these points of law. Bart would later tell ABCs 20/20 that he never felt as though he fit in. 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. It is for this reason that I would never sign for it, even if that were the only way to evade a return to death row. And finally, I checked into where Barts young accomplices are today. 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. Your email address will not be published. The goal was to refute a defense expert who said moving an iPhone causes its backlight to come on. Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al. P.O. The prosecution also called back cellphone expert Paul McManigal, a sergeant with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Thomas Bartlett Whitaker was born on Dec. 31, 1979, to Kent Whitaker, a comptroller for a family-owned construction business, and Patricia, known as Tricia, who gave up a career as an elementary school teacher to stay at home with Bart and his younger brother, Kevin. [16][17][b] Along with his second wife, Tanya Youngling, Kent Whitaker visits Bart regularly, speaking to him from behind a glass partition. This seems to me the only potential mitigation against execution. Marcus I totally agree. The popular new guy in town explained to his south of the border friends that he sustained the bullet wound to his arm while fighting in Afghanistan. There was a light on in the foyer, which provided him with his only illumination. Patricia was then also shot in the chest, also falling to the floor. Look toward those you are closest with in hopes that everything is fine with them. In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. (Kent also said he forgave shooter Chris Brashear.). A Texas inmate who was due to be executed for masterminding the murder of his family has been granted commutation shortly before he was due to be put to death. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Past posts on this blog have briefly touched on the Whitaker murders and their aftermath, but a deeper dive seems in order. got to do with justice (justice includes fair and equal treatment for all under law)? He could tell by the looks of Tricia that she needed his help much more than Kent. Thanks, Rebecca. Bart is definitely a bad seed. [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. Famously, Norman Mailer corresponded with Abbott, praised his writing talent, helped him snag a book deal, and lobbied for his early release. 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. He attempted to murder them several times before. He ripped off his T-shirt and placed it on Kents left shoulder. Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. What he did to so many people," Crosby said, bristling. "Any punishment that I would have or will receive is just, but my dad did nothing wrong. He was convicted and eventually committed suicide in prison. 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. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. 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. Why? [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. Cliff met Tricia the day he and his wife had moved in. The overwhelming forgiveness offered by one victim is not of the order of distinctness necessary. Jail records indicate that Buzzard was arrested on Aug. 25, 2021. [5][6][a], Whitaker attended Clements High School where in 1997 as a 17-year-old he received a criminal conviction for a series of seven burglaries that he had "meticulous[ly]" planned, leading other young friends in the spree. According to evidence presented at trial, the mother and son were fatally shot at the dog kennels on the property, and a Snapchat video Paul recorded at the kennels placed Alex at the scene shortly before the killings. 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? Bart Whitaker was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death. The exact date and time of the jury trip has not been scheduled because it is dependent on how many witnesses the prosecution calls in its reply case. "[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. Definitely, the guy needs to stay where he is. WebTexas 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, Cliff was unsure how that person was doing; that is, until he heard a pitiful sound emanating from the victim. Visit BetterHelp.com/CREEPERS today to get 10% off your first month.Sources:ArticlesTexas District & County Attorney's Association | A Most Unusual Suspect (Jeff Strange) CBS News | Texas Man Targeted by a Hitman Fights for the Life of the Person Who Ordered the Murder His Son (Peter Van Sant)ABC News | Murder in the Family: 'I Wanted Them Dead' (Harry Phillips & Elissa Stohler)Forensic Files Now | Bart Whitaker: Relative TragedyABC News | 'Murder by Family': Read Shocking ExcerptThe Houston Chronicle | Whitaker Lawyer Attacks Credibility of Witness (Eric Hansen)ABC News | 'Sugar Land' Culprit Made New Life in Mexico (Denise Martinez-Ramundo & Harry Phillips)Wikipedia | Thomas Bartlett WhitakerMedium | The Whitaker Family Murders of Sugar Land, TexasVideoYouTube | 911: The Sugar Land ConspiracyLearn more about your ad choices. The Stanleys and Whitakers developed a quick, pleasant friendship. 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. [41][needs update]. WebA Father's Life 10 Years After An Unspeakable Tragedy. [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." Subscribe to the ad-free version here! Dirty Deeds 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. [8]:Ch.10[pageneeded], The early testimony from Hipp[when?] 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. The field trip came as prosecutors made their closing arguments in the weekslong trial where Alex Murdaugh stands accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. Bart had a troubled high school experience, which was why his family was so thrilled that he made it to college graduation. I am South African. So, lets get going on the recap of Family Interrupted along with extra information drawn from internet research: Gathering place. Clifton, get out of there! she shouted frantically. 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. Want more true crime books? A defense expert said Riemer failed to shave hair from Paul Murdaugh's wound or X-ray his brain after it was blown from his body to confirm her findings. [18][non-primary source needed] [18], After losing a separate appeal in the federal courts early in 2017,[21] Whitaker's legal team appealed his claims to the U.S. Supreme Court. Cliff would later describe it as a death rattle. It was marked by very ragged moaning. Cliff knew that the boy, whom he could finally make out as Kevin, was breathing his final breaths. Champagne led police to the spot where he and Brashear threw a bag with the murder evidence into Lake Conroe. I heard yelling and shooting, Brandon stated. WebEvidence shown in Alex Murdaugh's trial for murder shows the Colleton County, South Carolina, property, known as Moselle. Kent, hold on to this. [11], Whitaker appealed his death sentence, suggesting nine points of error. E: [email protected]. I don't have the benefit of the materials you have," Crosby said. Cliff immediately headed in the direction of Kent Whitaker, his own safety not crossing his mind. [26][non-primary source needed] Board Chairman, David G. Gutirrez,[27] also met with Kent Whitaker for a half hour. Whitaker's father, Kent, was also injured in the attack by the actual gunman, Chris Brashear. 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. Bart never paid his accomplices for their hit man services. "So, you're alone in your office, throwing the phone around, taking no measurements, recording nothing over the weekend, and you come in here and testify as an expert as to what the phone would do?" All to cover up another web of lies.Love Killer Instincts but hate the ads? This episode does not seem to be shown that often, so I really appreciated the reminder of this case and the update. 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