The Sugar Land Conspiracy
The Whitaker family – Kent, his wife Tricia, and their two sons, Bart and Kevin – returned to their Sugar Land, Texas, home from dinner at a restaurant on December 10, 2003. Upon entering, Kevin and his mother were fatally shot by a gunman inside the house. Police investigation revealed that the murders had been planned by Bart Whitaker, who had enlisted friends Steven Champagne and Chris Brashear to carry out the plot and had intended on being shot himself as part of the scenario. “48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/22/2009. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+.
- Duration
- 41m
- Broadcast on
- 07 Dec 2023
- Audio Format
- other
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[music] The Whittaker family was a very welcoming, godly family. Christ was a very important part of what they did. Did you do it? All right. The Whittaker home was the place to hang out. Did you find one? It was the cool house to be at. Very safe, very nurturing, godly loving home. [music] Every time I went over there, you felt loved. They were family who had fun, and they traveled, and they laughed, and they joked around with each other. And everyone loved Trishane Kent. They were the second parents to so many people. The Whittaker family just seemed like the model, typical, well-to-do Sugar Land family. My name is Marshall Slott, and I'm a detective with the Sugar Land Police Department. My name is Brittany Barnhill, and I was Kevin Whittaker's best friend. He was just a great guy, the life of the party. Bart was the older brother. Kevin and his friends looked up to Bart. People thought that Bart Whittaker was cool. On December 10, 2003, I was working out with my best friend, Kevin Whittaker. He left to go have dinner with his family. We went out to dinner at a restaurant we all enjoyed. We're all in one car, so we drive back, pull into the driveway. Kevin walks up to the front door, and Trish is right behind him. Kevin opens the door. There's a huge loud noise. Kevin was shot, center mass, right in sternum. Trish says, oh, no. And I hear another noise. Trishane had made it into the house behind Kevin, and was shot, and then fell in the doorway. I look inside, and there is a figure with a ski mask on. I probably did not look at him for more than a second or two. I feel something hit my shoulder. The first three shots were rapid succession. Bart didn't chase the guy into the house. And as he approached that figure, he was shot. I think, oh my god, he shot all four of us. Kitten Bart recovered from their wounds. Trishane was transported via air ambulance. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. Kevin died at the scene.
Transcription truncated.
The Whitaker family – Kent, his wife Tricia, and their two sons, Bart and Kevin – returned to their Sugar Land, Texas, home from dinner at a restaurant on December 10, 2003. Upon entering, Kevin and his mother were fatally shot by a gunman inside the house. Police investigation revealed that the murders had been planned by Bart Whitaker, who had enlisted friends Steven Champagne and Chris Brashear to carry out the plot and had intended on being shot himself as part of the scenario. “48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/22/2009. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+.