The Greedy Son- The Story of Bart Whitaker and His Family

Bart Whitaker is a convicted murderer who orchestrated a horrific plan to kill his family. In 2003, Whitaker, then a student at Sam Houston State University, hired two men to break into his family's home and murder his mother, father, and brother.

The motive behind the crime was to inherit his family's wealth, which he believed would solve all his financial problems. However, the crime was discovered, and Whitaker was arrested and put on trial. The case received widespread media attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and the controversy surrounding the death penalty.

Background

Thomas Bartlett Whitaker was born on December 31, 1979, to his father Kent, who was the comptroller of a construction company, and his mother Patricia (Trish), who worked as an elementary school teacher.

During his high school years at Clements High School, Whitaker's parents bought him multiple luxury vehicles. He pursued higher education at Baylor University in 2001 but later transferred to Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in late 2003.

However, Whitaker had lied to his parents about his enrollment status and academic progress, with conflicting reports suggesting that he had either dropped out of SHSU months before or was attending as a freshman on academic probation. Despite his dishonesty, his parents continued to fund his studies and even purchased a lakeside townhouse in Willis, Texas, for him to live in. Furthermore, they gifted him a $4,000 Rolex watch just hours before the murders, leading to speculation about their role in enabling his behavior.

The Crime: Whitaker's Plan to Kill His Family

On December 10, 2003, Thomas Bartlett "Bart" Whitaker deceitfully informed his family that he had completed his final university exams and was on track to graduate from SHSU. They traveled to the nearby Pappadeaux restaurant located in Stafford to enjoy a celebratory dinner.

Whitaker's plan to kill his family was carefully orchestrated. He recruited two friends, Chris Brashear, and Steve Champagne, to carry out the murder. He promised them a share of his family's wealth and gave them detailed instructions on how to break into the house and kill his family.

Brashear, who was dressed entirely in black (including a ski mask), entered the Whitaker family home. Afterward, he staged a burglary and positioned himself near the front door, waiting for the Whitaker family to return home. Upon returning home, just before entering the house, Bart expressed the need to retrieve his cell phone from his car.

Bart's brother Kevin was the first to enter the family home and reportedly grinned upon seeing the masked Brashear. However, Brashear promptly shot Kevin in the chest, causing him to collapse to the ground. Patricia was the next target and was shot in the chest as well, also falling to the floor.

Kent immediately rushed in and was shot in the shoulder, causing his humerus bone to shatter. Bart subsequently entered the house and staged a struggle with Brashear, deliberately getting shot in his left arm in an effort to deflect any suspicion.

Brashear then made his escape through the Whitakers' back door and leaped over the fence into the neighboring yard at the rear. Sadly, Bart's brother Kevin passed away within minutes of being shot, while his mother Patricia also succumbed to her injuries shortly after being airlifted by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Upon the arrival of the first responders, Bart deliberately misled them by claiming that he believed the gunman was a black individual, with the intention of throwing off suspicion from Brashear. Fortunately, Kent, Bart's father, survived the incident despite losing his wife and son to the shooting.

Arrest, Trial, and Sentencing

Bart moved to Mexico to start a new life. A warrant for capital murder was issued against Whitaker on September 15, 2005.

Bart was arrested in Mexico and brought back to the US for questioning.

The prosecution's motive theory centered around financial gain, with evidence suggesting that Whitaker stood to inherit approximately $1.5 million following the deaths of his parents and brother. Additionally, it was alleged that he was seeking to profit from a $1 million life insurance payout.

As early as 2007, Kent Whitaker had already forgiven his son and his accomplices for their roles in the murders. During his son's trial several years earlier, he had attempted to sway the jury against issuing a death sentence.

Whitaker was finally sentenced to death.

Chris Brashear was sentenced to life imprisonment with the chance of parole after 30 years as a part of a plea bargain worked out with prosecutors for his involvement in the murders. Meanwhile, Steven Champagne received a 15-year sentence after serving as the primary witness for the prosecution.

Failed Execution

With only 30 minutes remaining before his scheduled execution via lethal injection, Thomas "Bart" Whitaker's life was spared in 2018 after Texas Governor Greg Abbott commuted his sentence from death to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

This decision came after a unanimous vote for commutation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Bart's father, who survived the attack on his life, has been a vocal opponent of his son's execution. He firmly believes that he would be victimized once more if the state were to put to death his last remaining immediate family member.