Savage Son [Paperback]

Corey Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

It was a night of celebration for the Whitaker family. Their son Bart was graduating from college. But when Bart's brother Kevin opened the door to their house, a masked intruder shot him point blank. His mother took the next bullet, followed by Mr. Whitaker and Bart. Blood was everywhere, but somehow Bart and his father survived. To the cops the story didn't add up, and their investigation discovered a stunning web of lies. Bart was living a double life. He hadn't been enrolled in college since his freshman year. Instead of attending classes, he'd spent his days playing video games with his friends - while planning to murder his family to inherit their million-dollar estate. A Heartless Murderer. Now bestselling author Corey Mitchell takes us inside this chilling murder case to reveal the twisted motives of a seemingly All-American-Boy-Next Door who turned into a cold-blooded killer now residing on Death Row.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078602013X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786020133
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a Los Angeles Times and Borders International Group bestselling author of several true crime books including HOLLYWOOD DEATH SCENES, DEAD AND BURIED, MURDERED INNOCENTS, EVIL EYES, STRANGLER, PURE MURDER, and SAVAGE SON. I am also the founder of the #1 true crime blog, In Cold Blog, a former blogger for the Discovery Channel's Hollywood on Crime blog, a contributor to MetalSucks, and the horror film festival blogger for Bloody Disgusting. I am currently working on my eighth true crime book, TEACH ME TO KILL, about the murder of Diane Tilly which will be released in 2011. I am also working with Philip H. Anselmo (ex-Pantera/Down) on his autobiography which should be released sometime in late 2011. In addition, I am co-authoring a book with Tracey Damron, ex-wife of former Kentucky legislator Steve Nunn, who has been accused of murdering his mistress, which will hopefully hit the shelves in 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Savage Son, July 10, 2010

By 

Parke G. Slot - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Savage Son (Paperback)

Marshall Slot, the lead detective named in the book, is my son. Myself, being a former Police officer and detective, take umbrage in the fact that the author of this book never consulted or even had a conversation with any Police officials connected with this particular case. As a result, the book is rife with conjecture as to what was really verbalized by any of the named parties involved.
Many purported quotes were merely literary license as well as often misquoted media accounts. Granted, the book makes for entertaining reading for those who enjoy this genre, however, the author's credibility for a true and factual account leave much to be desired.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly researched, July 13, 2010

By 

sugarlandmom "sugarlandmom" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Savage Son (Paperback)

In Texas, we think little of driving three hours for good barbecue or a hot date. Evidently Corey Mitchell didn't bother to drive that distance from his Central Texas home to actually view the scene of the Whitaker murders.

In SAVAGE SON, he describes Sugar Lakes, the subdivision in which the Whitaker family lived, as a gated community. He relates how Steven Champagne, the driver of the getaway car, managed to bypass the keypad controlling the gate by slipping in behind another car. In fact, he twice makes reference to the gate and keypad. Sugar Lakes has never been a gated community in the thirty years of its existance, so I am left to conclude that Mitchell never visited himself.

Another research error, but less glaring, is the author's contention that Kent and Bart Whitaker were taken to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital to recover from their wounds, and he sets a number of chapters in their hospital room. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land did not exist in 2003; it opened in late 2006.

I found the writing to be stilted and sometimes trite. This line was my favorite: "It was only a matter of time before it would be too late." I would have laughed aloud, but Mitchell was referring to the imminent death of Tricia Whitaker.

As murders in Sugar Land are thankfully rare, I followed this case closely. I looked forward to the publication of SAVAGE SON and was quite disappointed.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first real look at Bart Whitaker, sociopath extraordinaire, June 7, 2010

By 

tomas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Savage Son (Paperback)

Corey Mitchell does it again! I am very familiar with the Bart Whitaker case as I have seen all of the television shows about this young man and also read his father's book on the case. I even followed the case online back during the trial as I was intrigued to understand why someone who had everything would throw it all away. SAVAGE SON answers all of many questions and poses even more that I had never considered.

The thought that a nice young man like Bart could hire people to kill his entire family, who all loved him very much, simply baffles me. Mitchell does an excellent job detailing Bart's background which seems to be ideal. It also became clearer to me why Bart did what he did. Mitchell does not so say in the book, but I believe it was not because of money, but simply boredom. The comparison to infamous thrill killers leopod and Loeb helped drive this point home.

bart has always been portrayed as a poor young man who didn't know what he was doing. I believe this book portrays Bart Whitaker for what he truly is -- a bonafide, full-blown sociopath who doesn't care a lick about anyone around him. He is truly a despicable human being.

I also like how the book skips the traditional trial histrionics and settles in on why the prosecution opted for the death penalty even though one of Bart's victims begged for life. Spotlighting bart's testmony was a brilliant way to show that the state made the right call.

Excellent research, excellent writing with just the right amount of sensitivity, and a dash of dark humor (see Bart's earlier failed attempts at murder), SAVAGE SON, is easily the best true crime book of 2010 and Mitchell's best since, well, his last book!