The Whitaker Family Murders

I watched an episode of People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery for this case. It was Season 3, Episode 8 titled ‘Fatal Family Secrets.’ I’ve also seen it on several other shows.

The Whitaker Family consisted of Kent, Tricia, Kevin and Bart. Kent was the father, he was an executive at a construction company that Tricia’s family owned, Tricia was the mother and she was an elementary school teacher. They live in Sugarland, Texas- about 20 miles from Houston.

Kent described his son Kevin who was 19 when he was killed, as a very popular and athletic kid. He couldn’t say the same for Bart, he said he and Bart bonded over cycling. The Whitaker’s were also very religious, which you can see through this whole episode how much Kent’s faith played a huge part in his forgiveness.

The Murders:

On December 10th, 2003, the Whitaker’s were out celebrating their son Bart’s graduation at Sam Houston State. He had also just finished his last exam, or so he said. They went to a restaurant called Pappadeaux, and Bart’s family gave him a Rolex watch as a graduation present.

They returned home, Kevin went into the house first, then Tricia, then Kent and Bart. Kevin was shot first in the chest. Tricia was shot next and she was also shot in the chest. Kent said he heard two loud bangs, and went into the house next. He was shot in the shoulder, his humerus was shattered. Bart then ran inside and reportedly was fighting with the shooter and was shot in the arm.

The shooter ran through the back door and jumped the Whitaker’s fence. Kevin died immediately, and in the show Kent said he heard the police officers say something about a DOA (dead on arrival), and also heard that Tricia was still stable. He then realized one of his son’s was dead. Kevin was 19.

Tricia also died on the way to the hospital, and Kent found out when his parents came to the hospital.

This wasn’t stated in the show, but Bart told the officers that the shooter was black to steer them away from the real killer, who we will later found out he knew exactly who killed his family.

Evidence found:

When they were searching the Whitaker’s home, they found the murder weapon. The weapon was a 9mm glock handgun. No fingerprints were found on the gun. They also found a dark colored glove, close to Bart’s vehicle.

They also found out that the gun used during the crime, was Kevin Whitaker’s. The gun safe was found in an attack area right outside Kevin’s bedroom. The drawers were also pulled out, but nothing was taken. It was made to look like a staged robbery.

Suspects:

A tip came in from one of Bart’s friends named Adam Hipp, that Bart tried to hire him to kill his family. Adam said Bart promised him a lot of money to do it, around $1 million dollars. Adam said he was at work on the night of the crime, and he was eventually ruled out.

The police then decided to look into Bart’s other friends. They went to Bentwater restaurant where Bart was in charge of the bar. They also looked at his phone records and realized he talked to 2 men all the time. Their names were Christopher Brashear and Steven Champagne.

They brought Christopher in for questioning, and when their questions were heating up, Christopher stopped the interview.

They realized the only way they would get their answers was to see if Steven Champagne would turn on the other two. They tapped Steven’s phone, called Steven daily and followed him.

Steven finally called the police and came in for questioning. He said Bart hired him and Christopher, and promised them a $1 million dollar life insurance policy. Kent later said that “Bart knew there was no life insurance policy.” Steven said he followed them home from the restaurant, and that Christopher was the shooter. They then disposed of a duffel bag.

They had a 3 day scuba diving search to find the bag, and they found it. It had clothing and a water bottle that had Christopher Brashear’s DNA on it. A scent dog also tracked Christopher’s scent on the murder weapon.

Bart’s Escape:

Bart and Kent had been living together for 7 months after the shootings. Kent was eventually told by the police that Bart had a hand in the crime, and they were worried for his safety. Kent also discovered Bart’s secret, that he wasn’t going to graduate and that actually was a freshman, who had 2.0 GPA. He was also doctoring his transcripts.

Kent didn't want to believe it, unless there was proof. He said he tried to talk to Bart about it, and Bart denied it. Bart told his dad, he was leaving to go see a friend and would be back the next day.

Bart never returned and his truck was found abandoned. Bart had taken money that Kent was saving up.

Arrests and convictions:

After Steven talked to the police, he and Christopher were arrested. They were still looking for Bart, who was later taken into custody in Mexico, after a man named Perry said he had taken Bart across the border. Bart was trying to take Perry’s identity.

Trial:

Bart went on trial in March 2007. Bart Whitaker was refused a plea bargain, he was tried for capital murder. The prosecution claimed Bart killed his family for money, and Bart denied that and said he had a mental disorder because of drug abuse.

Adam Hipp and Steven Champagne also testified against Bart, and said they were promised money.

Kent forgave his son, he and some other family members begged the judge not to give Bart the death sentence. It took the jury 10 hours to sentence Bart to death.

Appeals:

Since Bart’s trial and death sentence, Kent had been trying to save his son through appeals. Bart was supposed to be executed on February 22nd, 2018 and 40 minutes before Bart was supposed to die, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced he would grant clemency to Bart, who was 38 at the time.

Bart’s sentence was changed to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Below is a video of the Texas Governor announcing clemency for Bart Whitaker:

Other:

Christopher Brashear was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Steven Champagne was sentenced to 15 years. He was paroled in 2015.

Kent Whitaker wrote a book called Murder by Family, talking about how he forgives his son.

Kent has also remarried.

*Kent and Bart. Kent has some amazing strength to forgive his son.*

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The only thought I have is that none of the killers have really showed remorse, I guess Steven did a little bit and said in his interrogation that “he wishes he could take it back,” but he didn't really have much emotion. I do think that Bart is a sociopath and didn't care about who he hurt. I think he did want money, there was nothing to suggest he did drugs constantly. Bart deserves life in prison, not death so he can think about what he did.

Kent is a saint for forgiving his son, and he made me emotional during the show talking about his love for his sons and his wife. He said a lot that “everything happens for a reason,” and about the plans God had for him.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bartlett_Whitaker

https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-investigates-whitaker-family-murders/

https://the-line-up.com/bart-whitaker-and-the-savage-murder-of-his-own-family

https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-plotted-familys-murder-executed-governor/story?id=53274744