48 Hours: Season 20, Episode 3

20 - 3: The Sugar Land Conspiracy

The Whitakers were an all-American, God-loving family living in a tightly knit community outside of Houston, Texas, but their apparent happiness quickly turned into torment the day that the entire family of four was gunned down in its own home. Tricia Whitaker, a retired elementary school teacher, and her 19-year-old son, Kevin, died from their injuries. The investigation into their murders reveals an intricate plot and a ruthless conspiracy involving young men whom most people would never suspect of being part of anything so evil. Incredibly, one of those young men, the mastermind of the murders, turned out to be Bart Whitaker, the eldest son - who had himself been shot as part of the bizarre plot. Such a revelation would shatter any family and challenge even the most faithful. Kent Whitaker, the father, on the other hand, is a man of unshakeable religious faith and he has decided to defend the life of his attacker, the last living member of his family. "The first night in the hospital, I forgave everyone who was involved in this," remembers Whitaker as he reflects on the murder of his late wife and son. "It is a gift from God that allows me to do this. I think he gave me that gift so that when I found out that it was my son, that it would be a legitimate forgiveness." Whitaker hopes he can persuade the Texas jury to forgive his only living son, but first his son must convince that same jury that he is no longer a threat to anyone - inside or out of prison.