WebHey there freaky fam! He should have gotten the death penalty and let it fold out as planned. I hope so. Kent spent lots of time with his sons. WebBartlett Whitakers trial began in March 2007. Want to keep reading? Bart Whitaker was found guilty of capital murder that occurred on Dec. 10, 2003, when an assailant entered the Whitaker home in the Sugar Lakes subdivision and killed Barts mother, Trisha, 56 years old, and his brother, Kevin, 19. WebThe main house at the Murdaugh family's Moselle Road property in Islandton, South Carolina, on March 1, 2023 Jurors on Wednesday visited the family hunting lodge where Alex She was in a kneeling position with her head on the front porch, near the slight step leading into the house. Until. Thanks, Rebecca. WebBart Whitaker, arranged the murder of his family. "[16] The trial judge's[who?] I feel for him, as I am sure very many do. Cliff was very fond of his new neighbors. I think he was probably too calculating to admit that he was a lazy, work-shy neer do well who wanted the good life his parents had already been providing for him without the hard work they put in to give it to him. He and Bart enjoyed biking long distances together. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue the celebration. [11], Whitaker left for Mexico in June2004, using $3000 to persuade an acquaintance to assist him; he assumed the name "Rudy Rios", found work in a furniture shop in Cerralvo, Mexico, developed a relationship with a woman, and concocted a story of service in Afghanistan to explain his gunshot wound. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. He and his wife, Darlene, had moved into the home just six months earlier. He had a good start better than most prisoners. Although no one knows whether Barts remorse was genuine, his polite, cooperative behavior behind razor wire impressed the guards so much that several of them wrote letters asking for clemency for Bart, according to the LA Times. [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. Faithful father. Dr. Ellen Riemer testified Tuesday that she stood by the findings of her autopsy that the fatal shot was fired upward. "But you can't walk around with anger.". A six-day trial ended "The reason you did not take X-rays of the brain was you already reached you conclusion," Harpootlian said. Kent then looked up at his neighbor and said, Cliff, they really could be inside there. Steve Champagne got 15 years in exchange for testifying against Brashear and Bart. WebIn the weeks following the murder, the police learned that the attack had been orchestrated by the son who survivedMr. Unfortunately, everything was far from fine at the Whitaker household. Additional factors make the decision more complex.". His lawyer Keith Hampton urged the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to remember the Old Testament story of Cain, who killed his brother but was himself spared by God. This week, Savannah details how Bart hired a hitman to kill his family as soon as they set foot inside, how he was found out, and the miraculous survival of his father, Kent Whitaker. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube. The unfairness of the situation is, ironically, an argument against the penalty, illustrating unjustness in US criminal practice. The intellectual capacity to succeed in academics, as Mr Whitaker apparently has, is neither here nor there morally, so would be a quite improper citation to mitigation. Would-be Waco whackers. v. Oliver J. He attempted to murder them several times before. In 2003, Thomas Bart Whitaker plotted the murder of his family. 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. Does a low-achieving prisoner deserve less consideration over a matter he has no control over (intellectual capacity)? You need to go. Where is he now? 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. [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. His mother Tricia and brother Kevin died in the shootings on 10 Help!. 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. The Stanleys were watching a family show. Over here in the UK, CBS Reality shows these episodes as Medical Detectives, and seem to show the same ones quite regularly. Friend starts singing. Their son had been upstairs in his room when he peeked in on his parents in the living room. Red herring. Whitaker's parents had bought him several luxury vehicles. [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." [citation needed] He was named a 2018-2019 PEN America Writing for Justice Fellow,[45] a program that aims to support creation of "written works of lasting merit that illuminate critical issues related to mass incarceration and catalyze public debate". Fred Felcman, the original prosecutor in the case, said the board made its decision purely because of the fathers forgiveness, and disregarded the large number of others affected by the murders. They went out to lunch together, had dinner a few times, and even made it out to the theater once on a double date. WebA Father's Life 10 Years After An Unspeakable Tragedy. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier/AP. But instead of fleeing, Cliff decided he needed some protection of his own. She had previously taught at nearby Lakeview Elementary School and was acting as a volunteer there on occasion. How horribly absurd and why the death penalty must go, PS Relative homicide rate, UK v US: 1 to 4.7 per 100,000 (with southern states generally higher). Cliff made his way toward Kent. Bart's brother Kevin entered the family home first and reportedly smiled when he saw the masked Brashear. He looked at Kent and asked, What happened?, Kent looked at his friend with pleading eyes and reiterated, Im bleeding, Cliff.. 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. Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. scheduled closing arguments for the morning of March 5. 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. Cliff snapped to and realized that both his wife and Kent were right. Definitely, the guy needs to stay where he is. In September2005, Whitaker was handed over to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder. Still, in an effort to unnerve the young men, police continually made it clear that they were watching them. (Murderers like to tell war stories, whether they happened or not Michael Peterson and John Boyle.). Unfortunately, he was afraid to move her body in case her blood had already started to clot up; he didnt want to break up the clots and cause her to bleed even more. Adam had replicated a diagram of the houses layout and where the triggerman was to lie in wait. Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles [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. It was natural instinct. Featured image of Kevin, Tricia, and Bart enjoy food and laughs at Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant to celebrate Barts impending college graduation: Kent Whitaker. Brandon Stanley followed directly behind his father. He decided it was best to put down his own weapon; however, he knew he had to do something. If I were Governor I know I would be seeking reasons to offer clemency but I do not think I could find them in this case As an opposer of execution I would have to come to terms with that. He hired two men to shoot and kill his mother, Tricia, younger brother, Kevin, and father, Kent. If they pull up, she said in reference to police officers, and they see you with that shotgun, theyll probably shoot you, too. [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. Your objectivity impartiality nor fear no favour is applausable. Gullible is what I think you could call him. Brandon walked down the steps and insisted, Then its outside. But from the outside, his home life and social life seemed near perfect. Bart. The Stanleys and Whitakers developed a quick, pleasant friendship. 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. I too am writing from UK (maybe you gathered). Rebecca I couldnt find it, but it would be great if you reviewed it! True Crime. Want more true crime books? [8]:Ch.53[pageneeded] Whitaker denied prosecution claims regarding the insurance profit motive, arguing that the only life insurance policy the family had was for $50,000 on his father's life. 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? And thanks Rebecca. ", "The Governor, the father, and the murderer", "Gov. Kent Whitaker survived his gunshot to the arm. E: [email protected]. WebThe Whitaker Family Murders True Crime Creepers. After the dinner ended, the family returned to their home in a wealthy Houston suburb to continue th 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. They handed him a death sentence. Decisions, as in US, were private, but limited information about decisions will be made public. A bullet hole is seen from inside of the feed room at the Moselle Road property on March 1, 2023. Texas is fortunate to have you working in their state. [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. Harpootlian then asked Crosby if he thought Murdaugh killed his wife and son. Cliff rose up to take a look. Cliff Stanley knew the Whitakers were in for a big weekend. Murdaugh is awaiting trial on about 100 other charges including financial crimes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McGreavy. I dont oppose it absolutely (ie, I cant claim it to be unquestionably wrong in cases where there is no question of guilt); but because (i) its unequally applied even between cases of certainty in the same state; (ii) it costs a fortune to execute someone due to necessary legal safeguards money that could be better spent; (iii) it typically takes at least 15 yrs to do it often much longer making it something of a farce; (iv) it harshly punishes the innocent loved ones of the perp, victimising them just as the perps victims loved ones were, it makes little sense. She was very hopeful, very upbeat and optimistic for [Barts] future.. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Thank you for such an excellent letter with such thoughtfulness. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool), Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. Ive been troubled for many years by the death penalty, in a country (US) in which justice (equality before the law) sometimes appears to be bought, or which otherwise privileges the white middle-class. 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! "I think his intentions were well, but his methods were flawed," Kinsey said. Especially when it has been said that capital punishment is punishment for them that dont have the capital. 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. When he walked out of his home, Cliff first looked over in the direction of the Whitakers house. Yes! 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