Current Events > Judge sets execution date for man who had family killed for $1 million dollars.

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Judge-sets-execution-date-for-Sugar-Land-man-12336728.php

But here's the interesting part: he stages a burglary on his family to kill them and inherit the money. He killed his mom, his brother, and his dad was there and survived the attempt on his life. But the dad don't want his son to be executed! He even stole $10K from his dad right after that.

"A Sugar Land man convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme to off his own family in hopes of snagging a plump $1 million inheritance is now slated for execution early next year, according to court papers filed this month.
A Fort Bend County judge on Wednesday signed the papers that could send Thomas Whitaker, who used the cover of a faked burglary to mask the murder of his mother and brother, to the Huntsville death chamber on Feb. 22.
"This is a case in which retributive justice plays no part," attorney James Rytting said late Monday. "The victim in this case is a father who does not want his child to die. It seems that this case shows that the only victim's right that counts is the right of vengeance - you don't have a right to mercy."
Just after a 2003 celebratory dinner marking his supposed graduation from Sam Houston State University - a milestone that never happened - Whitaker arranged for two friends to wait at the family home for a burglary set-up.
When the family of four returned home from the restaurant, a gunman opened fire as they walked through the door, killing 51-year-old Patricia Whitaker and 19-year-old Kevin. Only Whitaker's father survived the attack.
Afterward, as police probed the killings, Whitaker stole $10,000 from his father and fled to Mexico.
When authorities picked him up 15 months later, his father hired an attorney to argue against the capital case.
The pair of slayings came after three years of planning and at least one previous murder attempt, according to court papers.
Triggerman Chris Brashear pleaded guilty to murder a decade ago and took a life sentence, while the getaway driver - Steve Champagne - agreed to a 15-year plea deal.
But a Fort Bend jury settled on a death sentence for the mastermind behind the plot, and after more than a decade of legal battles, the condemned man lost out in the Supreme Court last month.
He does not have any pending appeals, Rytting said.
Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey declined to comment. "

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?
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damn that's a shitty son
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2003
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

They still do more then you'll ever know. Think about how many people get killed every day.
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Here's a story I found in which the hitmen did not turn out to be cops:
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Judge-sets-execution-date-for-Sugar-Land-man-12336728.php
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Pretty sure those dudes that killed Drake's friend would be considered hitmen. Wasn't your regular gang shooting at least.
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Most people don't go through actual hitmen. Killing a couple people for money doesn't exactly make you a professional Hitman. Most people just hire gang members or drug addicts.
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Hitman will exist for as long as you can convince somebody to murder someone else for money. It's rather common actually.

The cops posing as hitman, that's just the dumb fucks that go on Craigslist or put an ad out like they are looking for someone to clean their gutters
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eston posted...

CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Here's a story I found in which the hitmen did not turn out to be cops:
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Judge-sets-execution-date-for-Sugar-Land-man-12336728.php

LOL, got me there

Trigg3rH4ppy posted...

CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Most people don't go through actual hitmen. Killing a couple people for money doesn't exactly make you a professional Hitman. Most people just hire gang members or drug addicts.

I see

glitteringfairy posted...

CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

Hitman will exist for as long as you can convince somebody to murder someone else for money. It's rather common actually.

The cops posing as hitman, that's just the dumb fucks that go on Craigslist or put an ad out like they are looking for someone to clean their gutters

Gotcha. For some reason I figured there were just lots of people who fell for those over and over.
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Professional Hitmen are an organized crime thing. They're generally not available for contracts. They're "employees" of crime families that are used to kill people (or families of said people) that owe the crime family money or some other reason.
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This sounds like a forensic files episode.
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shanefu22 posted...

This sounds like a forensic files episode.

Well, he fixin' to die for it.

ChromaticAngel posted...

Professional Hitmen are an organized crime thing. They're generally not available for contracts. They're "employees" of crime families that are used to kill people (or families of said people) that owe the crime family money or some other reason.

Yeah, think Sopranos.

A lot of low level guys were forced to do hits so they could build up their cred with the organization. Even the guys who were ratting out to the FBI still did the hits they were ordered to do since it was an absolute necessity if they were still to be part of their crew. You can't turn down a hit if it's ordered by your capo or boss, etc.
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CableZL posted...

Do hitmen even really exist any more in the US, or are they all just cops posing as hitmen to catch people like this?

In this case I think it's just a technical term because I think he just got some low-down friends and said I'm going to give you a fat ass cut if you help me do this. Hitmen, assholes, all of the above.

Cocytus posted...

"The victim in this case is a father who does not want his child to die. It seems that this case shows that the only victim's right that counts is the right of vengeance - you don't have a right to mercy."

Victims don't have a right for vengeance either you dumbshit.