You might have heard many stories of gruesome murders. But the story we will discuss today will bring shivers down your spine. This is the real-life story of how a 16-year-old girl, with her boyfriend, Charlie Wilkinson, masterminded the murder of her mother, father, and 2 little brothers in their sleep. It is the story of how refusing marriage turned a daughter against her family. This is the story of Erin Caffey. She is currently serving a life sentence in the Texas Department Of Corrections for her heinous crimes. Let’s fully understand the reason behind this crime and the reasons which led to it.
The Caffey Family
Erin had a small family with her father, mother, and 2 little brothers. Caffey’s were a very simple living family. They resided in a simple cabin in Alba, Texas. Most people around Alba and Emory knew the family very well. They were very active in church activities. Erin’s mother, Penny Caffey, used to play piano at the Miracle Faith Baptist Church, and her father, Terry Caffey, was a home health aide and lay preacher. Erin herself used to perform gospel solos at Miracle Faith on Sundays. But as she started dating Charlie, she avoided these activities and disobeyed her parents.
Erin Caffey and Charlie Wilkinson’s Relationship
Charlie Wilkinson and Erin Caffey were both residents of Alba, Texas. Erin used to work as a waitress at a Sonic fast-food restaurant, where she met Charlie Wilkinson. He gave Erin his grandmother’s ring as a promise ring. To tell Erin that he will marry her soon. But. who knew that after only 5 months of dating each other, Erin would plan to murder her whole family?
The Reason Behind The Murder
You might be thinking, what could be the reason that someone would kill their entire family? They might be starving her or beating her. But no, the reason Erin Caffey planned the murder of her family was because they told her to end her relationship with Charlie Wilkinson. They saw that Charlie was not a good influence on Erin. Her behavior had changed since they started dating; she skipped school and avoided her parents. When they said that Erin could not date Charlie, she got angry and decided that she needed to murder her parents. She even told them to kill her little brothers because they used to pick on her. She asks her boyfriend, Charlie, to execute the plan with his friend, Charles Waid.
Night Of The Murder
Erin finalized the plan to kill her parents on the night of March 1st, 2008. It is said that she told her boyfriend and his friend to enter the house at night and kill everyone. They bought a .22 magnum pistol with themselves and 2 samurai swords. They stabbed and shot everyone in the house. Erin’s father saw the face of one killer and identified him as his daughter’s boyfriend, Charlie Wilkinson. They showed no mercy to anyone, even the little boys.
Their only motive was to kill everyone. And one by one, they did it. After killing everyone, they looted the house for any valuable items and money. Charlie has promised Wade that he will give him $2000 if Wade helps him. To make sure that everyone is died, they set the house on fire. Outside the house, Erin Caffey and Charles Waid’s girlfriend were waiting in a getaway car to get them away from the crime scene.
The One Who Survived
With the house engulfed in fire, Erin thought that she was successful in killing her whole family. But, miraculously, Erin’s father, Terry Caffey, was not dead yet, and his only hope kept him from fighting his pain that he still had a daughter to live for. He got out of the burning house with stab and shot wounds, reached his neighbor’s house, and asked them for help. They called 911 for help. Terry was taken to hospital, and the next day, when his sister visited him, he got to know that his daughter was arrested for charges of her family’s murder. Terry couldn’t believe what he heard. To this date, he does not believe that his daughter could do anything like this to her family. He says that Charlie must have manipulated her daughter to do this all.
Catching The Killers
As the firefighters got to the crime scene to extinguish the fire, an ambulance came, which took Terry for emergency surgery. After gaining consciousness, the police asked Terry about the incident and if he remembered anything. Terry immediately told the police that it was Charlie Wilkinson who killed his family. As police searched for Charlie, they got to Charles Wade’s trailer to question him.
They found both Charlie and Erin in that trailer. In less than 24 hours, all four suspects were in police custody. As the police questioned them, Erin said that she was kidnapped and she had no part in this crime, whereas Charlie and Charles both told the police that it was Erin’s idea to kill her whole family. Charlie Wilkinson said that he even asked Erin to run away with him, but she insisted on killing her entire family. After a long session of questioning, Erin’s story of kidnapping fell apart, and she confessed to her crimes.
Charges On Criminals
All 4 who were part of this gruesome crime were charged with three counts of murder. These four were Erin Caffey, Charlie Wilkinson, Charles Wade, and Charles Wade’s girlfriend. Charlie Wilkison and Charles Wiad were given life sentences with no chance of parole ever. Initially, the court was giving them the death penalty, but Terry Cafey insisted on giving both of them an opportunity of remorse. As for Erin, she is given life imprisonment, and she cannot try for parole before 40 years. Her sentence could be reduced depending on her behavior in the Texas Department Of Corrections. Terry Caffey still visits her daughter and believes that his daughter is not the mastermind of this crime.
Conclusion
In the end, it can be said that you should never make a decision when you are angry. Anger can lead to decisions that you might later regret. Here, Erin decided to kill her entire family out of anger. This not only destroyed the lives of 4 people who were part of the crime, but it also ended the Caffey family. Erin’s father is alive, and he still believes in his daughter. He visits her often.
F.A.Q.
Erin Caffey planned to murder her whole family because they told her not to see her boyfriend, Charlie Wilkison, anymore. They thought he was a bad influence on her and affected her behavior.
Erin’s father, Terry Caffey, was able to survive the heinous crime, and he helped in identifying the suspects.
Erin Caffey is currently serving life imprisonment, and she will not be able to apply for parole before 40 years.
Yes, Terry Caffey still visits her daughter in the Texas Department Of Corrections, and he still believes that his daughter was manipulated to be a part of this crime.
