212: The Whitaker Family Slayings

212: The Whitaker Family Slayings

Author: Erica Kelley March 26, 2024 Duration: 1:02:16
In December of 2003, 23-year-old Bart Whitaker had just finished his finals and was about to graduate from college. That night, he went to dinner to celebrate with his parents, Tricia and Kent, and his younger brother Kevin. As they returned home and walked through their door, they were ambushed by a masked gunman. Initially, authorities suspected that this was a burglary gone wrong. But before the funerals had even taken place, detectives discovered that Bart had lied about graduating. And that was just the beginning. 

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley 
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner 
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley 
Suggested by Jessica, Donna, Michelle, and Kyle

Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/whitaker-family-massacre

This episode is brought to you by:  
  • Get your year started off right with healthy new vitamins. For 50% off your first month, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code SFTC50
  • Try the revolutionary whole body deodorant Lume. Go to Lume.com and enter code SFTC for $5 off the starter pack. 
  • Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to Quince.com and use promo code SFTC for free shipping. 
  • Sign up for Newspapers.com--your ultimate resource for exploring the mysteries of the past. Use code SFTrueCrime and get 20% off your subscription.
  • They say time waits for no one, and neither should payday--See EarnIn.com/TOS for more details.

Hosted by Tennessee native Erica Kelley, Southern Fried True Crime digs into the dark, complex, and often unsettling stories that have shaped the American South. This podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine both historical cases and contemporary crimes, all through the lens of the region's distinct culture. Erica brings a local's perspective, balancing a layer of charm with a direct, no-nonsense approach-what she aptly calls southern sass. Each episode is a deep dive into how geography, tradition, and social structures influence these events and their outcomes. You'll hear detailed narratives that reveal how the justice system operates in the Deep South, for better or worse. The show connects the past to the present, exploring how history echoes in modern courtrooms and investigations. It’s a blend of societal observation, cultural history, and true crime analysis, all grounded in Erica's firsthand understanding of the territory. Listen for thorough research presented in a conversational tone, where the setting is as crucial as the crime itself. This isn't just about the what, but the why and how, specifically within a southern context. Tune in for a compelling exploration where the stories are as layered and potent as the region's famed cuisine.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Southern Fried True Crime
Podcast Episodes
The Disappearance & Murder of Emily Anderson - Part 1 of 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:08
The last time anyone saw 49-year-old Emily Anderson was December 29, 2005. As husband, Jerry Anderson was naturally the first suspect. But he seemed to be able to account for his time that day and he passed a polygraph.…
Introducing Gone Cold – Texas True Crime [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:39
Texas is known for being tough on crime and those who commit it. Or at least the ones who get caught. There are tens of thousands of unsolved homicides in Texas and nearly as many open missing persons cases. Every week,…
220: The Murder of Rhonda Oakley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:59
On September 1, 2016, 52-year-old Rhonda Oakley was due home from a business trip. Only gone one night, she and her husband of less than three years had missed each other. The empty nester and single dad had been insepar…
219: The Kidnapping of Carrie Lawson, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:11
In the dark morning hours of September 11th 1991, in the small town of Jasper Alabama, a couple named Earl and Carrie Lawson were awoken by a fake emergency phone call that lured them out of the house. A masked man was w…
218: The Kidnapping of Carrie Lawson, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
In the wee hours of September 11, 1991, Earl and Carrie Lawson were awoken by an urgent phone call from a woman claiming to be a nurse who said Earl’s father was hospitalized and might not make it through the night. The…
217: The Murder of Charlotte Childs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:55
In May of 1993, 18-year-old student Charlotte Childs was eagerly anticipating her high school graduation in Holly Hill, South Carolina. She was busy attending all sorts of pre-graduation celebrations in the lead-up to th…
216: The Wellnitz Family Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:22
For nearly a decade, the Wellnitz family murders haunted the small town of Columbia, Kentucky. The tight knit community had no clue why these good people were mercilessly executed in their own home. They were known for t…
215: The Death of Annie Burkett Shell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:59
Parents have to trust caregivers. It’s just a fact of life. Often we feel more comfortable with a family friend than a daycare. That’s what Tiffany and David Shell did for their daughter Annie. They trusted Brandi Giannu…
Listen Now: Happily Never After: Dan & Nancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:09
Nancy Brophy fills her novels with romantic betrayals and murder. It’s a far cry from her quiet life in the suburbs, where she and her chef husband, Dan, are living out their golden years. But when Dan is shot dead, Nanc…