December 2003 was a special time for Kent and Tricia Whitaker. Their sons had returned home from University for the holidays, and they were happy to have the whole family back together again. Little did the Whitakers know it would be the last fond memory the family of 4 would share.
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Music Credits:
The Minds Of Madness Theme Music – Duncan Foster
The Funkoars – Feel The Madness
Used with Permission -
http://goldenerarecords.com.au/ge/funkoars/
Research & Writing:
Christine Penhale
https://thetruecrimefiles.com/
Special Thanks:
Dr. Christina Forzani Psy.D
Featured Podcast:
Bloody Murder - http://bloodymurderpodcast.com/
Sources:
“Works of Justice: An Interview With Writing for Justice Fellow Thomas Bartlett Whitaker.”
Pen America, April 19, 2019.
https://pen.org/works-of-justice-thomas-bartlett-whitaker-interview/
“Texas Man Targeted by a Hitman Fights for the Life of the Person Who Ordered the Murder – His Son.”
48 Hours, January 5, 2019.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bart-whitaker-sugar-land-texas-murders-father-fights-to-save-son-from-execution/
“Writing for Justice Fellowship 2018-2019.”
Pen America, 2018/2019.
https://pen.org/writing-justice-2018-2019/
"Meet the father who forgave his son for murdering his family."
https://www.mamamia.com.au/bart-whitaker-inside-story/
“Clemency Rare for Death Row Convicts in Texas.”
ABC 13 Eyewitness News, February 22, 2018.
http://abc13.com/politics/clemency-rare-for-death-row-convicts-in-texas/3114938
“Crime Watch - Murder in the Family ('I Wanted Them Dead').”
2020, 2018.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ft0ik
“Gov. Commutes Death Sentence for Man Convicted of Masterminding Murder of Mother, Brother.”
CBC News, February 22, 2018.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bart-whitaker-execution-reprieve-greg-abbott/
“Governor Abbott Commutes Death Sentence Of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker.”
Office of the Texas Governor, February 22, 2018.
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-commutes-death-sentence-of-thomas-bartlett-whitaker
“Request for Commutation of Death Sentence to a Lesser Penalty.”
Document Cloud, January 10, 2018.
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4346607/Whitaker-Clemency.pdf
“Man Condemned in Family Murder Plot Loses High Court Appeal.”
U.S. News, October 10, 2017.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas/articles/2017-10-10/man-condemned-for-family-murder-plot-loses-high-court-appeal
“Bart Whitaker on the Stand.”
YouTube: IamWhoWeR Mulhall, June 19, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejDLuUFvJLc
“Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, Petitioner – Appellant v. Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent – A Appellee.”
uscourts.gov, April 4, 2017.
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/16/16-70013-CV0.pdf
“Buried Alive: Stories From Inside Solitary Confinement.”
GQ, March 2, 2017.
https://www.gq.com/story/buried-alive-solitary-confinement
"Family Interrupted.”
Forensic Files, August 12, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoMzzGJJQG8
“Letters from Death Row: Faith Behind Bars.”
Texas Observer, June 12, 2015.
https://www.texasobserver.org/death-row-inmates-religion/
“Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, Petitioner, v. William Stephens, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent.”
govinfo.gov, March 17, 2015.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-txsd-4_11-cv-02467/pdf/USCOURTS-txsd-4_11-cv-02467-0.pdf
“Thomas Whitaker; Perry Williams, Plaintiffs – Appellants V. United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; William Stephens, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division; James Jones; Unknown Executioners, Defendants – Appellees.”
Govinfo.Gov, January 22, 2015.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca5-13-20750/pdf/USCOURTS-ca5-13-20750-0.pdf
“Death Row Inmates Sue Texas Governor Rick Perry for Abusive Conditions.”
Death Penalty News, May 7, 2012.
https://deathpenaltynews.blogspot.com/2012/05/death-row-inmates-sue-texas-governor.html
“Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al., On Behalf of Themselves and Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiffs Vs. Oliver J. Bell, Members of The Tx. Brd. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al. Defendants.”
Class Action Complaint, 2012.
http://www.minutesbeforesix.com/MB6Files/2012/Pleadings%20in%20class%20action_conditons.pdf
“Savage Son.” Book by Corey Mitchell, May 5, 2010.
https://www.amazon.ca/Savage-Son-Corey-Mitchell-ebook/dp/B003KN3JSO
“Book 'Em: Murder by Family.”
CBS News, August 24, 2009.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-em-murder-by-family/
“Thomas Bartlett Whitaker v. The State of Texas (Original).”
Justia, US Law, June 24, 2009.
https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2009/18518.html
“Murder by Family: The Incredible True Story of a Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness.” Book by Kent Whitaker, May 12, 2009.
https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-Family-Incredible-Treachery-Forgiveness/dp/1439164606
“Murder in the Family: 'I Wanted Them Dead'.”
ABC News, April 28, 2009.
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=7470379&page=1
“'Sugar Land' Culprit Made New Life in Mexico.”
ABC News, April 28, 2009.
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=7448586&page=1
“Clinical Psychology Report on Thomas Bartlett Whitaker.”
Minutes Before Six Blog, March 30, 2009.
http://www.minutesbeforesix.com/MB6Files/2009/Exhibit%208%20-%20Psych%20Evaluation.pdf
“'Murder by Family': Read Shocking Excerpt.”
ABC News, January 19, 2009.
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=7440267&page=1
“Driver in Sugar Land Murder Plot Gets 15 Years.”
Houston Chronicle, November 19, 2007.
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Driver-in-Sugar-Land-murder-plot-gets-15-years-1622371.php
“Testimony Ends in Whitaker's Murder Trial.”
Houston Chronicle, March 2, 2007.
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Testimony-ends-in-Whitaker-s-murder-trial-1839373.php
“Bart Whitaker Arrested.”
Houston Chronicle, September 25, 2005.
https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Bart-Whitaker-arrested-9856621.php
“Death Row Information: Thomas Whitaker.”
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, n.d.
https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_info/whitakerthomas.html
“Minutes Before Six.” Prisoner blog started by Thomas Whitaker, n.d.
http://minutesbeforesix.blogspot.com
“Prison Writing and Political Will.”
The American Reader, n.d.
http://theamericanreader.com/prison-writing-and-political-will/