a Fort Bend County jury, in 400th District Judge Clifford Vacek's court...

a Fort Bend County jury, in 400th District Judge Clifford Vacek's court, unanimously sentenced Thomas "Bart" Whitaker to death, for masterminding a plot that resulted in the murders of his mother and younger brother, and the attempted murder of his father.
Bart Whitaker, 27, could have received life in prison on the capital murder charge over the Dec. 10, 2003 shootings of Kevin Whitaker, 19, his brother, and Patricia Whitaker, 51, his mother.
Chris Brashear, 23, Bart Whitaker's former roommate, who also is charged with capital murder but has not gone to trial yet, is accused of hiding in the Whitaker family's home with a gun. After waiting for them to arrive home from a dinner, prosecutors have said, Brashear shot and killed Bart Whitaker's brother and mother, wounded his father, Kent, and then shot Bart in the shoulder in an attempt to keep police from learning of Bart's involvement.
Bart Whitaker admitted his guilt. Prosecutors said Whitaker wanted his family dead so he could collect a $1 million inheritance.