wiseguy182
05-23-2015, 12:52 PM
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with this story, I recently watched it from my 20/20 collection, it is an episode called "Murder In The Family"
The Whittakers were a seemingly close family living in Sugar Land, TX, but in 2003, 22 year old Bart arranged the murders of his parents and brother, to be killed after they all had returned home from celebrating Bart's graduation from college (It was later learned he never got past Freshmen year and was suspended). Bart's mother and brother were killed by gunshots, but his father only suffered a shot to the arm and survived as they returned to the house. Same for Bart, who took a shot in the arm to give the appearance he was a victim as well.
There were 3 things I couldn't comprehend about this case.
1) Bart seemingly had no motive for the murders, other than some vague comments about feeling he didn't fit in, and anger at his family. But at other times, he said that he was very close with his brother throughout their lives together. I found out Bart has multiple mental issues and such, and was also drinking and using drugs heavily at the time (a bad mix), but I still can't comprehend how he could take out his entire family.
2) His father has actually forgiven him and visits him on a near-weekly basis. I think that perhaps his father, Kent, may be doing this because he didn't want to lose his entire family out of the ordeal, but it's still shocking.
3) Bart had convinced another local youth to do the killings, and still another local youth to drive the getaway car. They all lived on the same street. Just shocking that so many sick minds could live on that one, rural street.
The actual killer received a life sentence, and the driver of the getaway car got 15-20 years. As for Bart, he is currently on Death Row in what is ranked as "America's Second Worst Prison" in solitary confinement 23 hours a day. He is currently appealing his sentence, claiming it is "too harsh" and whining about his living conditions. :violin:
The Whittakers were a seemingly close family living in Sugar Land, TX, but in 2003, 22 year old Bart arranged the murders of his parents and brother, to be killed after they all had returned home from celebrating Bart's graduation from college (It was later learned he never got past Freshmen year and was suspended). Bart's mother and brother were killed by gunshots, but his father only suffered a shot to the arm and survived as they returned to the house. Same for Bart, who took a shot in the arm to give the appearance he was a victim as well.
There were 3 things I couldn't comprehend about this case.
1) Bart seemingly had no motive for the murders, other than some vague comments about feeling he didn't fit in, and anger at his family. But at other times, he said that he was very close with his brother throughout their lives together. I found out Bart has multiple mental issues and such, and was also drinking and using drugs heavily at the time (a bad mix), but I still can't comprehend how he could take out his entire family.
2) His father has actually forgiven him and visits him on a near-weekly basis. I think that perhaps his father, Kent, may be doing this because he didn't want to lose his entire family out of the ordeal, but it's still shocking.
3) Bart had convinced another local youth to do the killings, and still another local youth to drive the getaway car. They all lived on the same street. Just shocking that so many sick minds could live on that one, rural street.
The actual killer received a life sentence, and the driver of the getaway car got 15-20 years. As for Bart, he is currently on Death Row in what is ranked as "America's Second Worst Prison" in solitary confinement 23 hours a day. He is currently appealing his sentence, claiming it is "too harsh" and whining about his living conditions. :violin: