The Murder of Patti Wheelington

Written By Kiley Baumgartner

For this case, I watched an episode of Snapped. It’s season 28 episode 18.

A popular small town woman is killed on the porch of her home.

Background

Patricia Ann Phillips was born on November 2, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended school at the University of Delaware and Texas A&M. After graduating, she took a job at the Department of Human Services in the small town of Texarkana, Arkansas.

Patti met her husband, Ray, who was quite a bit older than her. They married in December 1989. Patti also joined a square dancing club with her husband, Ray, called the Guys and Dolls.

By 2011, Ray’s health was deteriorating. He was diagnosed with dementia. He passed away on November 10, 2012. Patti was devastated, and continued to volunteer around the area, and square dance to pass the time.

Patti Wheelington

Patti and Ray

The Murder

By 2013, Patti was ready to move on with her life.

On December 3, 2013, Patti was supposed to take her friend, Ken Caldwell, to the doctor around 3pm. Ken contacted Patti’s close friends, Barbra Ricketts and Phyllis Nabors.

The two of them decided to go out to Patti’s house when she didn’t return their messages. They arrived around 5pm, and discovered that Patti had been shot near front door.

Phyllis described Patti as being cold and swollen. They knew that there was no reviving her, and they called the police.

The Crime Scene

Phyllis and Barbra met the police in the front yard of Patti’s home. They were in shock and devastated, and it was hard to ask them any questions.

The police found Patti on the ground near the front door. She had been shot 5 times, to the chest, back, and forearm. It appeared as if she had known her killer, as she was wearing her bathrobe, and had a cigarette in one of her hands. One of the bullets had gone through the back of Patti’s chair, through the window, and into the bedroom. The police collected a .38 caliber shell casing, and determined it was most likely from a revolver.

The police ruled out robbery right away. Patti’s house was very clean, except for a receipt from a locksmith. Patti had her locks changed the day before her death, on December 2. There was also paperwork from Patti’s life insurance on the counter.

When Ray passed away, he had left Patti a large amount of money. Patti had no heirs, so she left money for several organizations she was involved in, and for her friends, Barbra and Phyllis.

The Suspects

The police now had their first suspects. They also canvassed the area, and learned that several of Patti’s neighbors had heard gunshots around 8am on December 3.

Barbra and Phyllis were both asked to sit down for a formal interview. They were asked about the life insurance money. Phyllis said she did know that they would be receiving some money because Patti had mentioned it to them.

They explained that Patti was supposed to pick Ken Caldwell for a doctors appointment. Phyllis said Ken called her when she didn’t show up.

Phyllis said she had been with a friend all afternoon, and Barbra had been with her family. Their alibis were checked, and they were ruled out.

One thing about Phyllis and Barbra’s stories did catch the attention of the police. They both said that there were rumors around their square dance club that Patti had been having an affair with her friend, James Hyatt. James was married to a woman named Virginia, and he had helped the Wheelington’s rebuild their house after a fire had destroyed it.

Small Town Rumors

The police learned that James had sent Virginia divorce papers, just a few days before Patti died. Phyllis said she spoke to Virginia on December 3, and she suddenly had come to terms with her marriage ending. Phyllis thought it was odd because Virginia was so devastated about it just days earlier.

The police were able to contact James, who had been in Florida visiting his sister. James told them that he and Patti were close friends, but denied any affair. James only answered questions that police asked him, but didn't give any useful information. James told them that he would come in for an interview when he returned.

James’ cell phone was pinged. He was cleared, as he hadn’t been in Arkansas on the day that Patti was killed.

Next, Ken was questioned. Ken told the police that he had been on the phone with Patti around 8am on December 3. Ken said that their phone call was interrupted, and that Patti told him that Virginia had just arrived. Patti said she’d call him back, but she never did.

A Distraught Woman

The police learned that Virginia was rude to Patti after she learned about the rumors of Patti and James’ affair. Virginia told everyone that would listen that Patti flirted with whoever she wanted to.

On December 4, the police arrived at Virginia’s home, and took her into custody.

Virginia was asked about her relationship with Patti, and about her whereabouts on December 3. Virginia said she and Patti were friends, and that she hadn’t been at Patti’s house on December 3. Virginia said she had woken up, and went to McDonald’s around 8am, to get food for her mother.

The police didn't believe her. Her phone records were obtained, as well as James and Patti’s. The police were able to recover voicemails that Virginia had left on Patti’s cell phone in November 2013. Virginia can be heard wailing, and begging Patti to leave James alone.

James eventually admitted that he and Patti had been having an affair since 2009. James had asked Patti to go to Florida with him, because he was afraid of what Virginia might do. Patti said no, but had her locks changed on December 2.

The Evidence and Conviction

The police had evidence that Virginia had talked about killing James too. She had told James’ sisters around Thanksgiving, that James wanted to kill himself. They told James, who said he wasn't going to kill himself, but believed that Virginia was going to kill him and make it look like a suicide.

James also told the police that Virginia did have a .38 caliber revolver, which was never recovered from her home. During a search, the police found the shirt that Virginia was wearing on December 3. It was tested for gun powder residue. The test came back positive.

Virginia’s alibi also fell through. She had gone to McDonald’s that day, but at 9am, not 8am, like she told the police.

On February 2, 2016, Virginia Hyatt went on trial.

The prosecution’s theory was that Virginia was so devastated by the affair and divorce, that she wanted to get her husband’s mistress out of the way. They said Patti had tried to get away from Virginia, but that she kept shooting until Patti was dead.

Virginia’s defense was that no one would believe that Virginia, who was 67 at the time of Patti’s murder, could kill her. Virginia would limp into court, and sat in a wheelchair during some of the trial.

On February 8, 2016, after one hour of deliberation, Virginia was found guilty of capitol murder. She was given an automatic life sentence.

Virginia Hyatt

Kiley Baumgartner
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