Murder by Family : The Incredible True Story of a Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness

Cover; Colophon; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Epigraph; Introduction; Chapter 1: THE FIRST 200 MINUTES; Chapter 2: DUST TO DUST; Chapter 3: NEW YEAR'S EVE: LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK; Chapter 4: STORM CLOUDS OF SUSPICION; Chapter 5: INTERLUDES; Chapter 6: HITTING THE FAN; Chapter 7: CLEANING UP THE MESS; Chapter 8: THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE; Chapter 9: HURRICANES RITA AND MARSHALL; Chapter 10: SWITCHING HORSES; Chapter 11: BEHIND THE MASK; Chapter 12: THE EVOLUTION OF MURDER; Chapter 13: 48 HOURS AND A TRIAL; Chapter 14: THE VERDICT; Chapter 15: SIX YEARS TO ETERNITY This is the tragic story of Kent Whitaker's heart-wrenching journey toward forgiveness and faith after the brutal murder of his wife and one of his sons. Straight from the headlines comes an incredible true story of a son's treachery. For the first time, readers are offered inside access to the emotional drama that went on behind the scenes. At the core is the remarkable healing power of forgiveness, demonstrated by Kent Whitaker, which shows how the survivors of such atrocious events can still forgive those who have permanently damaged their lives. One evening, the Whitaker family returned home after dinner, celebrating a son's impending graduation from college. On opening the front door, they faced a gunman lying in wait. The gunman opened fire, instantly killing the younger son and Kent's wife, leaving Kent and his older son lying wounded until police and ambulances arrived. While recovering in the hospital, Kent resolved in his heart to forgive whoever was responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Over the next few weeks, it was discovered that the whole murder plot had been orchestrated by the surviving son -- whom Kent had unknowingly forgiven. After a trial that resulted in a death sentence for his son, Kent emerged from this harrowing ordeal to share their astonishing journey toward forgiveness and redemption. Straight from the headlines comes an incredible true story of a son's treachery. For the first time, readers are offered inside access to the emotional drama that went on behind the scenes. At the core is the remarkable healing power of forgiveness, demonstra- ted by Kent Whitaker, which shows how the survivors of such atrocious events can still forgive those who have permanently damaged their lives. One evening, the Whitaker family returned home after dinner, celebrating a son's impending graduation from college. On opening the front door, they faced a gunman lying in wait. The gunman opened fire, instantly killing the younger son and Kent's wife, leaving Kent and his older son lying wounded until police and ambulances arrived. While recovering in the hospital, Kent resolved in his heart to forgive whoever was responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Over the next few weeks, it was discovered that the whole murder plot had been orchestrated by the surviving son - whom Kent had unknowingly forgiven. After a trial that resulted in a death sentence for his son, Kent emerged from this harrowing ordeal to share their astonishing journey toward forgiveness and redemption