Thomas paxton whitaker biography of albert

Thomas Bartlett Whitaker

American convicted murderer (born 1979)

This article has multiple issues.Please help improve itor discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article needs attention from an expert in Law. The specific problem is: the need of a review for completeness and accuracy fence the summaries of legal proceedings (Trial, appeals, Commutation, and Calendar sections), and of the citation formats for published/unpublished cases; what is more, secondary legal sources are needed so that the article presents reliable legal analysis rather than summaries of pop press information accounts or editor WP:OR of primary sources.WikiProject Law may affront able to help recruit an expert.(January 2022)

(Learn how suggest when to remove this message)

Thomas Bartlett Whitaker (born December 31, 1979) is an American convicted under the Texas law intelligent parties of murdering two family members as a 23-year-old. Whitaker was convicted and sentenced to death in March 2007 cooperation the December 10, 2003 murders of his mother and 19-year-old brother.[1] He spent years on death row at the Polunsky Unit near Livingston, Texas, before the commutation of his determination.

Whitaker's father, who Whitaker had also attempted to have murdered, had pleaded with Governor Greg Abbott for the commutation diagram Whitaker's sentence, stating that by executing his son, the ensconce was simply making him a victim once again. On Feb 22, 2018, about 40 minutes before his scheduled 6:00 P.M. execution, Whitaker had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment without say publicly possibility of parole by Abbott, the first such commutation get ahead of Abbott and the first in the state since 2007, etch which Governor Rick Perry commuted Kenneth Foster's death sentence.[2][3] Brand of September 2021, Whitaker resided in the McConnell Unit in effect Beeville, Texas.[4][5]

Early life and education

Thomas Bartlett "Bart" Whitaker was whelped on December 31, 1979, to father Kent, the comptroller of a construction company, and mother Patricia (Trish), an elementary school teacher.[5][6]

Whitaker attended Clements High School where in 1997 as a 17-year-old he received a criminal conviction for a series of septet burglaries that he had "meticulous[ly]" planned, leading other young acquaintances in the spree.[7] In that same time frame,[when?] Whitaker's parents had bought him several luxury vehicles.[8]: Ch.50 [page needed] Whitaker began attending Baylor University in 2001, transferring from there to Sam Houston Tidal wave University (SHSU), where he was thought by his parents benefits be in attendance in late 2003, and from which blooper was expected to graduate.[9][4] He had lied to his parents about his continued status in college; varying reports had him dropping out of SHSU months before,[10] or being present at hand as a freshman on academic probation.[4] His parents funded his academic pursuits.[citation needed] In addition, they purchased a lakeside townhouse in Willis, Texas, for his use, and a $4,000 Rolex watch was given to him as a college graduation accumulate hours before the murders.[8]: Ch.50 [page needed][11]

Murders

On December 10, 2003, Bart falsely gather his family that he was graduating from SHSU.[11] The coat drove to the nearby Pappadeaux restaurant in Stafford for a celebratory dinner. Whitaker had enlisted two individuals to carry beat the shootings: Chris Brashear, shooter, and Steven Champagne, Brashear's slip back driver.[12] Brashear, dressed in black (including a ski mask), entered the Whitaker family home, took Bart's brother Kevin's gun weather ammunition from a locked box in his room, staged a burglary, and then waited near the front door for depiction Whitaker family to return home.[13][independent source needed]

Upon returning home but before entering the house, Bart said that he needed solve collect his cell phone from his parked Yukon[clarification needed], private that Brashear was armed and waiting inside to kill his family. Kevin entered the family home first and reportedly smiled when he saw the masked Brashear. Brashear shot Kevin flawlessly through his chest, and Kevin fell to the floor. Patricia was then also shot in the chest, also falling peak the floor. Kent rushed in and was shot in picture shoulder with the bullet shattering his humerus.[13][independent source needed] Bart then ran inside and staged a struggle with Brashear, effort shot in his left arm to divert suspicion.[citation needed]

Brashear substantiate exited through the Whitakers' back door and jumped over depiction fence into the rear neighbor's yard. The Whitaker's neighbor, Escarpment Stanley, was the first person to arrive on the site. He could see that Kevin was dead, but Patricia was still alive.[11] Patricia died shortly after the start of circlet airlift by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital; Bart's dad Kent survived.[12] Bart told first responders that he thought interpretation gunman was black, in order to divert suspicion away overrun Brashear.[13][14][page needed][independent source needed]

Investigation and arrest

This section needs expansion with: further info on this under-reported aspect of the case, with careful checking of existing text for correspondence with appearing sources. You gather together help by adding to it. (January 2022)

Whitaker left for Mexico in June 2004. He told his father he was going dressingdown a club and never returned.[11] Using $3,000 to persuade break off acquaintance to assist him, he assumed the name "Rudy Rios" and found work in a furniture shop in Cerralvo, Mexico. There, he developed a relationship with a woman and concocted a story of service in Afghanistan to explain his gunfire wound.[4] He lived there under the false name for nonplus a year. On September 15, 2005, a capital murder certify was issued against Whitaker.[15][16] The acquaintance who had assisted Whitaker to flee became aware of reward money that had bent offered for his arrest,[clarification needed] and communicated Whitaker's whereabouts merriment the police.[4]

Cooperating with US authorities, Mexican authorities arrested Whitaker outofdoors incident under immigration charges. In September 2005, Whitaker was handed go beyond to U.S. authorities at the border town of Laredo, Texas, where he was arrested for capital murder.[15]

Trial and conviction

This sweep needs expansion with: a more encyclopedic treatment based on reliable less important sources from third-parties, sources that allow statement in trial fashionable order of the people involved in the prosecution and cooperation, the witnesses and the dates of their presenting evidence, description actual progression of evidence presented by each side, etc. Complete can help by adding to it. (January 2022)

Whitaker was refused a plea bargain in exchange for his admission of criminality by District Attorney John Healey, and was instead tried encouragement capital murder.[3] The trial began in March 2007, led infant prosecutor Fred Felcman[17][18][d] before 400th District Court Judge Clifford Vacek and a Fort Bend County jury.[7][17] Evidence was presented delay Whitaker had recruited two individuals, Steve Champagne and Chris Brashear, ages 24 and 25 at the time of the 2007 trial run respectively,[17][12] Champagne to be the getaway car driver and Brashear to carry out the shootings in Whitaker's plan to fratricide his immediate family.[12]

Early evidence was presented that Whitaker had at one time recruited others in abortive plots to murder his family, plots involving a co-conspirator named Adam Hipp, who had attended Clements High School with Whitaker.[17][19][20] At the trial, Hipp stated put off he had contacted the Sugar Land Police Department with information take previous plots after he heard about the Whitaker family murders in 2003; he was given immunity from prosecution in back up for testifying for the prosecution against Whitaker.[21][8]: Ch.10 [page needed]

The early testimony circumvent Hipp[when?] described a first Whitaker plan to set a bung house owned by his grandmother on fire "to kill his parents, brother and other relatives," a plan that never went beyond discussions, but one that included a ruse as trivial element—the defendant's "com[ing] out of the blaze with burns inexpressive that it would appear he had narrowly escaped."[17] Hipp, who admitted on cross-examination that his participation in Whitaker's schemes difficult been "motivated by money"—police testified that Whitaker stood to come into the family estate, valued at $1 million—further testified that in December 2000, prior to the murders of which he stood accused, Whitaker had made another preempted plan, this time to "ambush his parents and brother as they entered their home after a dinner outing," a plan noted by the Houston Chronicle stand your ground be "virtually identical to the one [Champagne would soon testify] was actually carried out three years later."[17] Trial judge Vacek handling of the prosecution's use of a phone recording among Hipp and Whitaker would become an element of the defense's later appeal of the verdict.[19][non-primary source needed]

In other early confirmation, Steve Champagne described Whitaker recruiting him to be the fall driver for Whitaker's eventual 2003 plan to murder his instantaneous family,[12] and his testimony included the detail that Whitaker's shooting wound was a ploy to make it look like proscribed was a victim, too.[17] Prosecutors presented evidence that although inadequate wasn't Whitaker who shot his family members, he was chargeable for the murders because he played the leading part shore the conspiracy to commit the murders.[22][better source needed]

The prosecution's theory of inducement focused on financial gain, with evidence variously described as measure of inadequacy to Whitaker standing to inherit "about $1.5 million" after the demise of his parents and brother,[4] or that he had sought to capitalize on a million-dollar life insurance payout.[citation needed] Conclude trial, it was noted that Whitaker had access to scheme $80,000 trust fund from his grandparents although he testified ensure he did not know he could access it.[8]: Ch.53 [page needed] Whitaker denied prosecution claims regarding the insurance profit motive, arguing that representation only life insurance policy the family had was for $50,000 on his father's life.[citation needed][clarification needed]

Kent Whitaker had already forgiven his son and his co-conspirators for their parts in interpretation murders (reported on as early as 2007),[23] and had try at the time of his son's trial, years earlier, sentinel persuade the jury not to deliver a death sentence.[citation needed]

On Friday, March 2, 2007, prosecutor Fred Felcman and the Bring back of Texas rested the prosecution's case in the capital patricide trial for Thomas Bartlett Whitaker's role in the deaths be beaten his brother and mother.[17] Randy McDonald, attorney for the take care of, rested their case on the same day, without calling witnesses, and judge Vacek scheduled closing arguments for the morning method March 5.[17] After closing arguments, the case went to representation jury. After deliberation the Fort Bend County jury convicted Whitaker of capital murder,[12] under the Texas law of parties.[13][verification needed][independent source needed] The trial had lasted six days in total; the "jury deliberat[ed] for 2 hours, and sentenced Whitaker to death."[4][12]

Co-conspirator convictions

This section needs expansion with: further details on this under-reported limitation of the case. You can help by adding to hurtle. (January 2022)

In a plea bargain worked out with prosecutors, Chris Brashear received a life sentence with the possibility of promise after 30 years for his role in the murders; Steven Champagne received 15 years after serving as the main onlooker for the prosecution.[12]

Appeals and lawsuits

Whitaker appealed his death sentence, suggesting nine points of error. In 2009, the state appeals monotonous found in favor of the appellant on none of these points of law.[19][non-primary source needed]

On October 1, 2013, Whitaker become more intense two death row convicts, Perry Williams and Michael Yowell, sued Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) directors Brad Livingston near Williams Stephens; James Jones, senior warden at the TDCJ's City prison, where executions take place; and unknown executioners.[24] The charge questioned the purity of the drug—pentobarbital—used to execute prisoners mop the floor with the Texas prison system. On October 4, 2013, the make somebody believe you was dismissed for Whitaker and Williams because neither had bent issued execution warrants at the time of the lawsuit. Incorrect October 9, 2013, Yowell was executed with the drug enclose question after U.S. District JudgeLynn Hughes refused to stay his execution.[25] Whitaker and Williams later appealed to the U.S. Ordinal Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the original dismissal.[26][27][28] That case continued back and forth in courts for several years.[3] In 2015, the Texas Attorney General's office agreed to express the doses of pentobarbital for Whitaker and Williams shortly once their executions. Whitaker withdrew his appeal pertaining to the cleanness of the drug used, pending at the Supreme Court unscrew the United States, just before a decision by the Texas Governor to grant clemency and commute his sentence.[3] The Foremost Court formally refused to hear the appeal on February 26, 2018.[29]

After losing a separate appeal in the federal courts trustworthy in 2017,[30] Whitaker's legal team appealed his claims to say publicly U.S. Supreme Court.[31][non-primary source needed][30] The appeal was certiorari denied.[31][30] On November 1, 2017, his death warrant was signed, concern his execution for February 22, 2018.[32]

Commutation of sentence

Alongside the licit submission from the Whitaker legal team—an 18-page document from Whitaker lawyers Keith S. Hampton and James Rytting (the latter schoolwork Hilder & Associates),[33][non-primary source needed] Whitaker's father, Kent, also appealed, cooperating with the legal team's submission and writing a sign in the public forum of the Houston Chronicle on Jan 18, 2018, asking that the Texas Board of Pardons point of view Paroles "spare my son".[34][non-primary source needed] Board Chairman, David G. Gutiérrez,[35] also met with Kent Whitaker for a half hour.[36][full citation needed]

On February 20, 2018, in a rare decision, picture Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that the inattentive sentence be commuted to life imprisonment.[37] The seven-member Board unanimously recommended clemency to RepublicanGovernorGreg Abbott,[38][37] the first time it locked away done so unanimously since 2009.[3][37]

Abbott accepted their recommendation and commuted Whitaker's death sentence, noting that Whitaker had "voluntarily and incessantly waived any and all claims to parole in exchange irritated a commutation of his sentence from death to life steer clear of the possibility of parole." This was the first commutation conjure such a sentence from Abbott and the first from a Texas Governor since 2007.[2][3] Abbott cited the fact that Whitaker did not fire the gun and that his father, Painter, "insists that he would be victimized again if the run about like a headless chicken put to death his last remaining immediate family member," rightfully the reasons for the commutation. [39][40][41]

Whitaker responded to representation commutation of his sentence by saying, "I am thankful funding this decision, not for me but for my dad."[42] Whitaker had previously stated his strong opposition to the idea make known life without the possibility for parole and wrote in his blog from prison:

[Life without parole], however, offends and assaults the entirety I believe in. It irrevocably denies any possibility of rehabilitation; it eviscerates hope entirely. It is for this reason think it over I would never sign for it, even if that were the only way to evade a return to death chuck. [Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, February 17, 2012][43]

Whitaker had earlier stated, when his execution was still expected, that he felt that his father would be further victimized by the execution.[44]

Chronology of cases

  • Thomas Bartlett Whitaker v. The State of Texas, 286 S.W.3d 355 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Closing of Whitaker's conviction within the Texas system. Case No. AP-75,654, arising from Cause No. 42,969 in the 400th District Suite, Fort Bend County, Texas. The court opens, noting that representation Appellant did not "challenge the sufficiency of... evidence" supporting representation original conviction for capital murder, appealing only the sentence persuade somebody to buy death, there raising "raises nine points of error". The regard cursorily rejected five as having been earlier decided (without successive change in court opinion). Four others the Court addressed primate new arguments, regarding the prosecutions reference at trial to Whitaker's original pre-trial "proffer" for penalty other than death and treason omission from the trial record, "nonuniform 'application of the law'" during trial and sentencing, and admission at trial of arguably prejudicial parts of a recording related to the 2001 homicide plot; the Appellant argued these constituted reversible error denying Whitaker's state and federal constitutional rights to a fair trial. Say publicly Court concluded, "[f]inding no merit in any ... points" sports ground "affirmed the judgment of the trial court", including sentence.
  • Thomas Whitaker, Perry Williams and Michael Yowell v. Brad Livingston et al. (S.D. Tex. October 1, 2013, Case 4:13-cv-02901). Whitaker, Williams, unacceptable Yowell argued that the drugs used for lethal injection critical Texas prisons "runs a substantial risk of grave pain."
  • Thomas Whitaker; Perry Williams, v. Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; William Stephens, Director, Texas Department be in the region of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division; James Jones; Unknown Executioners (5th Cir. 2015), Text. "Before Prado, Elrod, and Graves, Circuit Judges. / Per Curiam / Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and stick to not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth bring in ... 47.5.4." Case No. 13-20750, Appeal of the Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) dismissal, by the district court, of a defendant civil action that had asserted that their rights collision due process, access to the courts, and punishment not pitiless or unusual were violated. Here, the order of the part court was vacated, and the case remanded "so that Whitaker [and Williams be] able to fully develop ... claims homeproduced on the existing protocol for an appropriate trial on say publicly merits."
  • Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, Petitioner v. Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Segment of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division (U.S. October 10, 2017), Text. Appeal many Whitaker's case to the U.S. Supreme Court, Case No. 17-5080, Capital Case, docketed on July 6, 2017, information drawn differ a posting of the Order List for 583 U.S. optimism Tuesday, October 10, 2017 (entry on p. 6 of 12 pp.). For the Supreme Court record listing all proceedings and immediately arising from the July 6, 2017 U.S. docketing of description appeal of the April 4, 2017 decision of the Merged States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (lower tedious, case no. 16–70013), see this record, accessed January 6, 2022. The petition was certiorari denied on October 10, 2017, tally the Court providing no comment or explanation.
  • Whitaker vs. Stephens[when?][full mention needed][clarification needed]
  • Thomas Bartlett Whitaker vs. Lorie Davis[when?][full citation needed][clarification needed]
  • Thomas Whitaker and Christopher Wilkins, et al. v. Oliver J. Noise, Members of the Tx. Brd. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al.[when?][full note needed][clarification needed]

Other post-conviction developments

Thomas Whitaker and other inmates initiated book unsuccessful class action against the State of Texas, addressing say publicly conditions on its death row,[45][non-primary source needed] where inmates beyond kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day.[46][verification needed][better source needed]

Kent Whitaker and his father, the only surviving victim of the wrong, wrote the book, Murder by Family: The incredible true interpretation of a son's treachery and a father's forgiveness, which — as described by Barry Leibowitz for CBS News — laboratory analysis about his "heart-wrenching journey ... to forgive the nameless stranger" responsible for his wounding, and the "brutal murder of his wife and son," a journey that included his realizing put off the murder "had been orchestrated by [his] oldest son Bart."[47][f] Whitaker provides an account from his perspective as father "behind-the-scenes," focusing on the time frame from the crime through his son's sentencing, addressing motive, and including portions of his proportion with his son.[47][14]

Whitaker earned an undergraduate degree from Adams Accuse University,[48] and a Master's degree in Humanities from California Conditions University, Dominguez Hills.[48] These are reported to have been attained while he was on death row.[citation needed] For the attempt, he appears to have presented a thesis in partial satisfaction of the degree, entitled "Who Fears Hell Runs Toward It," in summer 2018.[49][non-primary source needed] The master's thesis has been subjectmatter of some controversy, as someone appears to have offered demonstrate as a book for sale (see also below).[50][needs update]

Writing

Whitaker has contributed to Solitary Watch, where he wrote about the chattels of solitary confinement on himself and other death row inmates.[51] He also contributed[clarification needed] to Hell Is a Very Diminutive Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement.[citation needed][52]

Whitaker won prizes in Trade mark biro America's Prison Writing Program for his essay "Hell's Kitchen,"[53][g] "Manufacturing Anomie"[citation needed] and the essay "A Nothing Would Do despite the fact that Well."[citation needed] He was named a 2018-2019 PEN America Chirography for Justice Fellow,[54] a program that aims to support birth of "written works of lasting merit that illuminate critical issues related to mass incarceration and catalyze public debate."[55] Scholarly regard has been directed toward this PEN program, noting that childhood PEN was an esteemed human rights organization known for interpretation defense of free speech rights, in particular of persecuted writers, the Prison Writing Program presented a distinct agenda, namely imprison a "[belief] in the restorative and rehabilitative power of writing" to "help convicted criminals become writers," an aim which raises questions about the nature and residence of the power inmates are given and about its impact on prisoners and idea society.[53] Ira Wells, in particular, points to Whitaker's participation cover the program to exemplify the questions, declaring Whitaker's prison chirography powerful in its ability to "shock readers into a sensorial appreciation of the radical strangeness of [his] life lived."[53]

In 2007, Whitaker founded an inmate blog, originally created with the strengthen of his father and now maintained by volunteers, entitled Recently Before Six; it has published his work and trial records, and articles, poetry, and art from inmates held in prisons in the United States.[56][57] The name of the blog references "the hour at which executions take place in Texas."[58][better source needed][6]

As comprehend 2019, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was investigating a report that Whitaker's master's thesis was being offered for trade online.[50][needs update]

Bibliography of Whitaker's written work

This section needs expansion with: a relatively complete list, in chronological order, of all important deeds by the title subject, especially those referenced herein, for initiate giving their complete publication details, including date and publisher method its first appearance. You can help by adding to dwelling. (January 2022)

Examples of the prison writing of the title action, with dates of their first publication, include:

  • Whitaker, Thomas Publisher (2016). "A Nothing Would Do As Well". In Casella, Jean; Ridgeway, James; Shourd, Sarah (eds.). Hell Is a Very At a low level Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement. The New Press. pp. 101–113. ISBN .
  • Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (May 5, 2011). "Hell's Kitchen". PEN.org. PEN Land. Retrieved April 25, 2017.[full citation needed]
  • Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (July 7, 2014). "Manufacturing Anomie". PEN.org. PEN America. Retrieved April 25, 2017.[full citation needed]
  • Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (July 7, 2014). "A Nothing Would Do As Well". PEN.org. PEN America. Retrieved April 25, 2017.[full citation needed]

See also

  • Dana Ewell – a California man who rest the execution of his family after lying about business go well while at college

  1. ^Patricia Whitaker, age 51; Kevin Whitaker, age 19
  2. ^Kent Whitaker, age 52
  3. ^
    Note, the reporter for the preceding citation states the potential conflict of interest, of having served as a judge for the PEN Prison Writing Contest, including in tutor judging of the works of the title subject of that article.[citation needed]
    [Quote] "The state of Texas executes its taken around six o’clock p.m. Minutes before six on February 22, 2018, Governor Greg Abbott commuted the death sentence of Clocksmith Bartlett Whitaker to life in prison without parole. Abbot was following the very rare unanimous recommendation of the Board be a devotee of Pardons and Parole that Whitaker live out his life collect prison. For Texas this was astonishing. Nearly 150 people have antiquated executed since a Texas governor last spared a condemned mislead. Abbot has allowed thirty executions to take place during his three year tenure. ...
    Two of [Whitaker's] essays and a short story won first prizes in the PEN Prison Scribble literary works Contest. As a juror for the contest, I first encountered his striking talent in these works.
    The elder make out two sons, he grew up in Sugar Land, an affluent, similar community outside Houston. His brother won more of their parents’ attention, because of his learning disability. Whitaker was jealous most important withdrew to the world of books. (When he was xii, he was intensely affected by Albert Camus’ absurdist novel The Stranger ...)." in Houston, Texas.[citation needed]
    Thomas Bartlett, also called "Bart",[5] would become older brother to a second son, Kevin, inexact three years younger, after which his mother Trish would walk out on her teaching to provide additional care to Kevin, who difficult a learning disability. The family lived in Sugar Land, Texas, "an affluent, homogeneous community outside Houston", where Bell Chevigny, scribble literary works in Medium.com, describes Bart at age 12 as becoming jealous close the eyes to his brother, and "withdr[awing] to the world of books", including Albert Camus’ The Stranger (which she notes as a pierce with murderous parallels).
  4. ^ Fred Felcman, the original prosecutor check the case, said the board made its decision purely considering of the father’s forgiveness, and disregarded the large number rob others affected by the murders. He said testimony from psychiatrists and the family’s investigators who [had stated that] Bart was manipulative was disregarded.[18]
  5. ^For list of the Supreme Court record pick up the check all proceedings and orders (and other information) stemming from rendering July 6, 2017 U.S. docketing of the appeal of description April 4, 2017 decision of the United States Court get ahead Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (lower court, case no. 16-70013), see "No. 17-5080 *** CAPITAL CASE ***". Supreme Court close the United States. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  6. ^Murder by Family ... is the story of Kent Whitaker's heart-wrenching journey toward remission and faith after the brutal murder of his wife at an earlier time son. While lying in the emergency room after being airlifted from his home, Kent soon learned of his family's try. His emotions called for a response to either forever put somebody's back up the murderer ... or forgive him. At that moment, County made the decision to forgive the nameless stranger who confidential taken so much. 'I have had a hundred people locale me that they think I'm nuts — that I should hate the shooter and cry out for vengeance,' writes County. 'Perhaps I am crazy, but I believe that in those early moments God worked supernaturally, allowing me to forgive altogether and immediately ... Little did I realize just how tingly my decision to forgive would be in the coming months.' An investigation uncovered that a murder plot had been orchestrated by Kent's oldest son Bart — whom Kent had unwittingly forgiven. Kent Whitaker gives readers a behind-the-scenes account from depiction day of the murders up to Bart's sentencing, and includes excerpts of letters from Bart as he tries to make plain why he did it.[47]
  7. ^ The PEN Prison Writing Program ... has a slightly different agenda ... to help convicted criminals become writers '[believing] in the restorative and rehabilitative power compensation writing' ... [and] 'use of the written word as a legitimate form of power.” But what is the nature observe the “power” of the written word? And what, moreover, desire this power restore and rehabilitate? [Is PEN] honoring an chief strand of America’s liberal intellectual heritage? ...pledging allegiance to a romantic coupling of art and freedom? ... inadvertently helping reach bind prisoners ever more insidiously to the carceral regime? Slipup ... claiming something that is actually true? This article addresses these questions through a reading of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker’s prize-winning essay “Hell’s Kitchen” and finds that the power of Whitaker’s prison writing resides in its capacity to shock readers encounter a sensory appreciation of the radical strangeness of life momentary in a state of civil death.[53]

References

  1. ^Hanson, Eric (September 19, 2007). "Triggerman in Sugar Land slayings pleads guilty". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved Apr 25, 2017.
  2. ^ ab"Clemency rare for death row convicts in Texas". ABC13.com. February 22, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  3. ^ abcdefMcCullough, Jolie (February 20, 2018). "In rare move, Texas Parole Board recommends clemency for death row inmate Thomas Whitaker". Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ^ abcdefgVanapalli, Viswa (September 24, 2021). "Is Publisher Whitaker dead or alive? Where is he now?". TheCinemaholic.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  5. ^ abcReisner, Rebecca (October 11, 2019). "Bart Whitaker: Relative tragedy". forensicfilesnow.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  6. ^ abChevigny, Bell (August 9, 2018). "The Governor, the father, and the murderer". Medium.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.[c]
  7. ^ abPalkot, Stephen (February 19, 2018) [March 6, 2007]. "Whitaker Faces Life or Death". Fort Bend Recognise and Texas Coaster. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  8. ^ abcdMitchell, Corey (2010). Savage Son. New York, NY: Kensington/Pinnacle. ISBN . Retrieved January 4, 2020.[verification needed] Note, no access to content is apparently hand out online.
  9. ^Martinez, Deidre (February 19, 2018). "Former Baylor Student faces execution". Baylor Lariat. Waco, TX: Baylor University. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  10. ^Phillips, Harr; Stohler, Elissa (May 1, 2009). "Gov. commutes death decree for man convicted of masterminding murder of mother, brother". CBS News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  11. ^ abcdSant, Peter Van (January 5, 2019). "Bart Whitaker case: Sugar Land, Texas father fights to save son, convicted of masterminding deadly attack on kith and kin, from execution - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  12. ^ abcdefghHanson, Eric (November 19, 2007). "Driver in Sugar Land murder cabal gets 15 years". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  13. ^ abcdWhitaker, Kent; et al. (January 19, 2009). "Murder by Family: Read shocking excerpt". ABCNews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved January 4, 2022.[independent source needed]
  14. ^ abWhitaker, Kent (2008). Murder by Family: The incredible true story leave undone a son's treachery and a father's forgiveness. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN . Retrieved January 6, 2022.[page needed][independent source needed] See also this archived text of Murder by Family. Queen Books. 2008. ISBN  – via Internet Archive (archive.org).
  15. ^ abMartinez-Ramundo, Denise; Phillips, Harry (April 28, 2009). "'Sugar Land' culprit made new blunted in Mexico". ABCNews.go.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  16. ^Kumar, Seshadri (September 25, 2005). "Bart Whitaker arrested". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  17. ^ abcdefghiHanson, Eric (March 2, 2007). "Testimony ends in Whitaker's parricide trial". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  18. ^ ab"Reprieve for public servant who plotted own family's murder". EuropeWorldNews.com. February 20, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  19. ^ abcThomas Bartlett Whitaker v. The State describe Texas, 286 S.W.3d 355, 355 and final (Tex. App. 2009) ("[No. AP-75,654] From Cause No. 42,969 in the 400th District Court / Fort Bend County / Hervey, J., delivered the opinion of the Court in which Keller, P.J., Meyers, Womack, Keasler, Holcomb and Cochran, JJ., coupled. Price, and Johnson, JJ., concurred ... The judgment of rendering trial court is affirmed. / Hervey, J. / Delivered: June 24, 2009").
  20. ^Palkot, Stephen (March 2, 2007). "Whitaker friends, former girl testify". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^Palkot, Stephen (March 2, 2007). "Whitaker friends, former girlfriend testify". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  22. ^"IamWhoWeR Mulhall" [video post by] (June 19, 2017). Bart Whitaker on the stand(video). [pirated]. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via YouTube.[full citation needed][non-primary source needed] Note, representation time-stamp of the point in this 4:22 video that decay being referenced has not been provided.
  23. ^Kever, Jeannie (October 19, 2007). "Father forgives son who had mom, brother killed". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  24. ^Langford, Cameron (October 3, 2013). "Lethal Shot Change in Store, TX Inmates Say". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  25. ^Barron, Bonnie (October 9, 2013). "Death Row Convict Appeals to 5th Circuit". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  26. ^Hoffberger, Chase (July 15, 2016). "Death Watch: A First Offend for Everything". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  27. ^Christian, Carol (December 10, 2013). "Texas Death Row inmates appeal suit apply for untried execution drugs". Chron.com / Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  28. ^Barron, Bonnie (December 9, 2013). "Death-Row Challenge Is Premature, Aficionada Rules". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  29. ^"Spared ex-Texas eliminate row inmate loses Supreme Court appeal". AP News. February 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  30. ^ abcGraczyk, Michael (October 10, 2017). "Man condemned in family murder plot loses high court appeal". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  31. ^ abThomas Bartlett Whitaker, Petitioner v. Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division (U.S. October 10, 2017) ("[Case] No. 17-5080, Capital Case. Order List: 583 U.S. / Tuesday, Oct 10, 2017 (12 pp.) / Certiorari Denied / 17-5080 Whitaker, Thomas B. V. Davis, Dir., TX DCJ (p. 6). NOTE: volume, reporter, etc. UNKNOWN."), Text.[e]
  32. ^Blakinger, Keri (November 6, 2017). "Judge sets execution date for Sugar Land man who had family killed implication $1 million inheritance". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  33. ^Hampton, Keith S.; Rytting, James. "Before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles / Request for Commutation of Death Sentence to a Lesser Penalty"(PDF). assets.documentcloud.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.[better source needed]
  34. ^Whitaker, Kent (January 18, 2018). "A father's plea: Spare my son [Friday letters]". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  35. ^"Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles – David G. Gutiérrez, Chair". tdcj.texas.gov. April 6, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  36. ^Kelly, Megyn & Whitaker, Kent (February 6, 2018). Father fights to save son who murdered progenitrix and brother(streaming video). New York, NY: The Today Show. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via YouTube.com.[full citation needed] Note, description time-stamp of the point in this 10:29 video that stick to being referenced has not been provided.
  37. ^ abcWeissert, Will; Graczyk, Archangel (February 20, 2018). "Texas Parole Board Recommends Killer Be Spared From Death". Washington Post. Archived from the original on Feb 21, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  38. ^Graczyk, Michael (February 21, 2018). "Texas Governor Weighs Parole Board's Advice on Inmate's Fate". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  39. ^"Man who plotted his family's murder will not be executed, boss says". ABC News. February 22, 2018. Archived from the innovative on November 28, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  40. ^"Governor Abbott commutes death sentence of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker". Gov.Texas.gov (Press release). Command centre of the Texas Governor. February 22, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  41. ^Abbott, Greg; Pablos, Rolando B. (February 22, 2018). "[Commutation in this area death sentence of Thomas Bartlett Whitaker]"(PDF). Gov.Texas.gov (Press release). Publication of the Governor of the State of Texas. Retrieved Jan 5, 2022.See also"unformated, digital version" (Press release).
  42. ^Arnold, Robert (February 22, 2018). "Whitaker statement to prison officials". Twitter.com. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  43. ^Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (February 17, 2012). "In response to Feministe". MinutesBeforeSix.blogspot.com. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  44. ^"Bart Whitaker talks about eventual execution". Click2Houston.com. August 1, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  45. ^Thomas Whitaker sports ground Christopher Wilkins, et al v. Oliver J. Bell, Members waste the Tx. Brd. of Criminal Justice, John Whitmire, David J. Callender, M.D., Governor Rick Perry, et al. (E.D. Tex.). — Better Action Complaint, Jury Trial Demanded [full citation needed]
  46. ^Sasser, Brian [video post by]; Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (2013). KPRC-TV death row press conference with Thomas Bart Whitaker (video). pirated. Retrieved January 5, 2022.[full citation needed] Note, the time-stamp of the point in that 4:02 video that is being referenced has not been unsatisfactory. Note also, this video could not be tied to picture apparent producer, Click2Houston.com, and so must be considered suspect.
  47. ^ abcLeibowitz, Barry (August 24, 2009). "Book 'Em: Murder by family". CBS News. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  48. ^ abWhitaker, Thomas Bartlett; et al. (January 6, 2022). "Thomas Bartlett Whitaker". PEN.org (contributor autobiography). PEN U.s.. Retrieved January 6, 2022.[independent source needed],
  49. ^Whitaker, Thomas Bartlett (2018). Who Fears Hell Runs Toward It: On the Christian metaphysical foundations of the American penitentiary and the missing image of obstruction in Foucault's Discipline and Punish (Master of Arts thesis). Calif. State University, Dominguez Hills. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – specify Scholarworks.CalState.edu.