Murder by Family
Author | Kent Whitaker |
---|---|
Cover artist | Cover photo of Whitaker Family by Charles Foster, Jacket design by LUCAS Art & Design, Jenison, Michigan |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Non-fiction, Memoir, True crime |
Publisher | Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster |
Publication date | September 23, 2008 |
Media type | |
Pages | 224 |
ISBN | 978-1-4165-7813-0 |
LC Class | BV4529.17.W53 2008 |
Murder by Family a non-fiction true crime book written by Kent Whitaker.[1] The book was released on September 23, 2008 by Howard Books.
Synopsis
Murder by Family chronicles Thomas Bartlett Whitaker's attempts to have a hitman murder his parents and brother. His mother Tricia and brother Kevin died in the shootings on 10 December 2003, but his father Kent, though shot, survived.
The book also follows his father Kent Whitaker's spiritual journey of healing and forgiveness for his son. Kent tells of also forgiving his son's two accomplices who received prison sentences only. Chris Brashear was the hitman and Steve Champagne was his getaway driver.[2] Kent then pleaded in vain with the jury to spare Bart's life.[3] Kent now has a Christian ministry with his wife Tanya Youngling and speaks to organizations about forgiveness and healing.[4]
Thomas Bartlett Whitaker was refused a plea bargain by the District Attorney in return for his admission of guilt and was sentenced to death in 2007.[5] He currently appealing his death sentence and resides in the Polunsky Unit,[6] Livingston, Texas.
References
- ↑ Book 'Em: Murder by Family CBS CrimeSider
- ↑ http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Triggerman-in-Sugar-Land-slayings-pleads-guilty-1837350.php
- ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=7440267&page=1
- ↑ http://www.sugarlandmagazine.com/articles/2010/summer/kent-whitaker-sugar-land.pdf
- ↑ https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_info/whitakerthomas.html
- ↑ http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/05/10-worst-prisons-america-allan-polunsky-unit-texas-death-row
External links
- Excerpt from Murder by Family from The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Kent Whitaker: 10 Years After An Unspeakable Tragedy from The Oprah Winfrey Show