Sneak peek: Sugar Land -- Life or Death | Forensic Files

[Music] [Applause] way Oh [Music] Glory Whitaker family was a very welcoming Godly family Christ was a very
important part of what they did all right the Whitaker 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 every time we went over there you
felt loved there were family who had fun and they traveled and they laughed and you know they joked around with each
other and everyone loved Tren Kent they were the second parents to so many people the Whitaker family just seemed
like the model typical welltoo Sugarland family my name is Marshall slot and I'm
a detective with the Sugarland Police Department my name is Britney Barnhill and I was Kevin Whitaker's best friend
he was just a great guy the life of the party Bart he was the older brother Kevin and his friends looked up to Bart
people thought that Bart Whitaker was cool on December 10th 2003 I was working out with my best friend Kevin Whitaker
he left to go have dinner with his family we went out to dinner to 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 Trisha's right behind him Kevin
opens the door there's a huge loud noise bang Kevin was shot sent her MK right in
sternum Trisha says oh no and I hear another noise bang Trisha 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 bang I feel something hit my shoulder the first three shots we're in Rapid succession
Bart then chased the guy into the house as he approached that figure he was shot I think oh my God he shot all four
of us kitten and Bart recovered from their wounds trsh was transported by air ambulance she was pronounced dead at the
hospital Kevin died at the scene it didn't seem real these types of things happened but not to me not to my family
not to my friends on the scene one of the officers had mentioned to me I think I've been to
this house before and I think it was about threats on the family from somebody I think Kevin knew something
and whatever he knew I knew he was concerned about it the Whitaker family wasn't the All-American family that
everybody believed them to be it became clear that it was a conspiracy it was not a random act of violence these
people were assassinated what begins as a quest to identify a killer 15 years later becomes the remarkable
story of a victim willing to forgive and begging the state to have mercy I'm going to be thrown into a deeper grief
at the hand of the State of Texas in the name of justice and I just feel like there is a more appropriate sentence
than the execution h

A Texas father targeted by a hit man fights for the life of the person who ordered the murder -- his son. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant has the latest in the case Saturday, Jan. 5 at 10/9c on CBS.

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Brief Summary

The Whitaker family shooting reveals a conspiracy behind a tragic event and explores themes of forgiveness and justice.

Key points

The Whitaker Family's Tragedy. A seemingly perfect family faces an unimaginable tragedy when violence strikes their home.
Uncovering the Truth. The investigation reveals that the Whitaker family was involved in a conspiracy, not random violence.
A Journey of Forgiveness. Fifteen years later, a victim seeks mercy instead of vengeance from the state.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

It didn't seem real; these types of things happen, but not to me.

Reflecting on the shocking event.

2:22WatchJan 3, 2019

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