In December of 2003, 23-year-old Bart Whitaker had just finished his finals and was about to graduate from college. That night, he went to dinner to celebrate with his parents, Tricia and Kent, and his younger brother Kevin. As they returned home and walked through their door, they were ambushed by a masked gunman. Initially, authorities suspected that this was a burglary gone wrong. But before the funerals had even taken place, detectives discovered that Bart had lied about graduating. And that was just the beginning. 

 
 

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Show Notes

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley 

Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica Kelley

Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner 

Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio 

Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley 

Suggested by Jessica, Dona, Michelle, and Kyle

SOURCES

  1. Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett – CourtListener.com (2009)

  2. Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett – CourtListener.com (2010)

  3. Thomas Whitaker v. Lorie Davis, Director, 853 F.3d 253 – CourtListener.com (2017)

  4. Triggerman in Sugar Land slayings pleads guilty (chron.com)

  5. Clemency rare for death row convicts in Texas - ABC13 Houston

  6. Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Texas prosecutors use the 'law of parties' to widen the net for capital punishment - News - The Austin Chronicle

  7. In rare move, Texas parole board recommends clemency for death row inmate Thomas Whitaker | The Texas Tribune

  8. Bartlett Whitaker: Where is the Killer Today? (thecinemaholic.com)

  9. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Search

  10. Bart Whitaker case: Sugar Land, Texas father fights to save son, convicted of masterminding deadly attack on family, from execution - CBS News 

  11. Testimony ends in Whitaker's murder trial (chron.com)

  12. 'Murder by Family': Read Shocking Excerpt - ABC News (go.com)

  13. 'Sugar Land' Culprit Made New Life in Mexico - ABC News (go.com)

  14. Bart Whitaker on the Stand (youtube.com)

  15. History of Minutes Before Six - Minutes Before Six

  16. Convicted killed accused of writing and selling book while in prison (youtube.com)

  17. scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/dz010q88z

  18. Ancestry.com

  19. Father forgives son who had mom, brother killed (chron.com)

  20. KPRC-TV Death Row interview with Thomas Bart Whitaker on Vimeo

  21. Patricia Ann “Tricia” Bartlett Whitaker (1952-2003) - Find a Grave Memorial

  22. Kevin Michael Whitaker (1984-2003) - Find a Grave Memorial

  23. Thomas Norman Whitaker (1921-2013) - Find a Grave Memorial

  24. Even in sorrow, to forgive is divine (chron.com)

  25. Velma Eileen Galny Whitaker (1921-2015) - Find a Grave Memorial

  26. 12 Dec 2003, 5 - Victoria Advocate at Newspapers.com

  27. 10 Mar 2004, 15 - The Odessa American at Newspapers.com

  28. 15 Sep 2005, A18 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  29. 09 Mar 2007, 16 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  30. 20 Sep 2007, Page 7 - Longview News-Journal at Newspapers.com

  31. 18 Sep 2005, 30 - Corpus Christi Caller-Times at Newspapers.com

  32. 06 Oct 2005, 10 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  33. 09 Mar 2007, 19 - El Paso Times at Newspapers.com

  34. 25 Jun 2009, 12 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  35. 06 Apr 2017, 10 - Bryan-College Station Eagle at Newspapers.com

  36. 11 Oct 2017, A9 - Corpus Christi Caller-Times at Newspapers.com

  37. 23 Feb 2018, A3 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  38. 23 Feb 2018, A4 - The Monitor at Newspapers.com

  39. Former Bentwater employee found guilty of murder (chron.com)

  40. Son held in slaying of family; money may be motive (chron.com)

  41. Son suspected in slayings linked to past failed plots (chron.com)

  42. Nettie Marie Tillman Bartlett (1923-2015) - Find a Grave Memorial

  43. Patricia Whitaker Obituary (2003) - Houston, TX - Houston Chronicle (legacy.com)

  44. A most unusual suspect | Texas District & County Attorneys Association (tdcaa.com)