Erin Caffey

People

• Erin Caffey (juvenile daughter of Terry Caffey and Penny Caffey; charged in connection with the murders; later pleaded guilty and was sentenced)
• Terry Caffey (father; survived gunshot wounds)
• Penny Caffey (mother; killed)
• Charlie Wilkinson (Erin’s boyfriend; co-defendant)
• Charles Allen Waid (co-defendant)
• Bobbi Gale Johnson (female co-defendant; co-defendant)
• Clarence “Sonny” Caffey (Terry Caffey’s father; found dead of natural causes)
• Matthew Caffey (son; killed; referred to as “Mathew” in some passages)
• Tyler Caffey (son; killed; referred to as “Tyler” and “Tyler Caffey” in different places)
• Tommy Gaston (neighbor; called 911)
• Rains County Sheriff David Traylor (sheriff official)
• Detective Almon (sheriff’s investigator at the scene and during questioning)
• Chief deputy Kurt Fischer (chief deputy)
• Deputy Ed Emig (deputy)
• Texas Ranger John Vance (assisted interrogation)
• Justice of the Peace (court official at arraignment/juvenile proceeding)
• Sheriff’s investigator Richard Almon (duplicate role naming for same person as Detective Almon)
• Sergeant Vance (sergeant who commented on Erin at court)
• Shanna Sanders (chief of police for the Rains Independent School District)
• Deputy Serena Booth (deputy)
• Virginia Daily (Erin’s grandmother)
• Carl Johnson (family friend)
• Orvin Carroll (mayor of Alba)
• Harold Read (neighbor)
• Joyce Bell (Emory resident)
• Montrel Christian (Emory High School student)
• Ed Emig (duplicate mention of Deputy Emig)
• Lisa Tanner (assistant attorney general)
• Robert Vititow (district attorney)
• William McDowell (defense attorney)
• Israel Lewis (mental health counselor hired to evaluate Erin)
• Todd McGahee (Erin’s pastor)
• Rebecca McGahee (pastor’s wife)
• Jim Pence (author)
• Pence’s co-authoring with Terry Caffey is also referenced: “Terror by Night”
• Dion Kipp Jr. (friend of Charlie Wilkinson)
• Tommy Gaston is also referenced as “Tommy Gaston, who was a frequent guest in their home”
• Kurt Fischer and Ed Emig appear as chief deputy and deputy on scene
• Serena Booth appears as deputy

Timeline

• January 2, 2009 — Erin Caffey pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 25 years.
• March 1, 2008 — In the early morning hours, two young men burst into the Caffey home in Alba, Texas, and a killing spree and arson attack occurred; Penny Caffey and two young sons were killed; Terry Caffey suffered multiple gunshot wounds and escaped.
• February 21, 2008 — Terry Caffey went to visit his father, Clarence “Sonny” Caffey, and found him dead of natural causes.
• Feb. 21, 2008 — A reference is made to Terry Caffey’s father dying of natural causes on this date.
• February 27, 2008 — Three days before the murders, the Caffeys demanded that Erin break up with Charlie.
• March 3, 2008 — Erin was formally charged as a juvenile in the killings of her mother and two young brothers.
• March 2, 2008 — Investigators described the possible role of family opposition to a daughter’s boyfriend.
• March 1, 2008 — Authorities reported the discovery of the burned residence, victims, and that four suspects were arrested.
• In October 2008 — Wilkinson and Waid were each sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• Three months later — Johnson and Erin Caffey both pleaded guilty to murder; Johnson received two 40-year concurrent sentences; Erin received two consecutive life sentences, plus 25 years.
• November — Wilkinson and Waid avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty for their involvement in the killings.
• Late Saturday — Terry Caffey was on his way to surgery to have four slugs removed (reported by the AP passage).
• Thursday — Terry began a two-week speaking tour.

Background

Erin Caffey was Terry Caffey and Penny Caffey’s teenage daughter. Terry Caffey was 41, and Penny Caffey was 37. Erin was 16 at the time of the crime and later was described as 17 when discussing sentencing eligibility from a later report.

Terry Caffey reported that the sequence leading to the murders began about five months before the killings when Erin began dating Charlie Wilkinson. Terry and Penny did not approve of the relationship and focused on their Christian church and their love of music. The Caffey family members were described as being involved in church: Tyler played the guitar, Matthew played the harmonica, Penny played piano, and Erin was the vocalist.

Terry Caffey visited his father, Clarence “Sonny” Caffey, and found him dead of natural causes on Feb. 21, 2008.

Police and investigators described that the teenage daughter was angry because her parents would not let her date one of three other suspects. The narrative also described that the juvenile and one of the suspects were dating and were made to break up.

The offence

In the early morning hours of March 1, 2008, two young men burst into the Caffey home in Alba, Texas, and embarked on a killing spree.

Penny Caffey and two young children were killed. Terry Caffey was shot multiple times but managed to drag himself from the burning house. Authorities described the victims in various passages as:

• Penny Caffey (killed)
• Tyler Caffey (8) (killed; stabbed and also described as shot and stabbed)
• Mathew Caffey (13) (killed; shot and stabbed)

The home was set on fire. Investigators could not determine whether gunshots or the fire caused the deaths of Penny, Tyler, and Mathew because “The bodies have been so badly burned.”

Terry Caffey described being shot several times in the bedroom and after Penny was shot and he was shot additional times. He said “All in all, I think I had been shot 11 times,” and he said he felt he had been shot in the face. He also described that one of the attackers took the sword and stabbed Penny in the neck, nearly decapitating her.

He described hearing Matthew cry out “No, Charlie. No. Why are you doing this?” and he said he collapsed after blood rushed to his head. He further described that he crawled out through the bathroom window and dragged himself away from the house.

In the police narrative, Wilkinson, Waid, and Johnson were described as having statements that the murders were Erin’s idea. Erin was arrested while she was on the way to visit her father at the hospital.

A plea deal context later described that the boyfriend and two other co-defendants plotted to kill Erin’s parents because they did not approve of the relationship.

Investigation

Initial police accounts included that four suspects were arrested and each was charged with three counts of capital murder. The teenage girl’s name was initially withheld because she was a juvenile.

In the investigation, it was described that Erin was found hiding inside a trailer belonging to Waid’s older brother. It was also described that Waid told police he had been promised $2,000 for helping “take care of business” in the murders.

A search during questioning included the discovery of evidence:

• In the living room, a camouflage-colored purse with a driver’s license inside it belonging to Erin Caffey.
• Spent shell casings scattered across the carpet.
• A box of ammunition next to the mattress.
• A black-and-white Western shirt.
• A used condom slipped onto the floor.
• Near the closet, a shock of blond hair; the discovery of a girl in a fetal position with eyes opening. Erin told investigators: “Fire,” and she later offered a statement in which she described confusion and claimed she could not remember much else, including that there were “two guys with swords” dressed in black who ordered her to get down on the floor. She said she drank “some stuff” offered to her at the trailer and could not recall afterward. She also whispered: “They’re coming after me.”

Toxicology screening is described as coming back negative for Rohypnol, GHB, and other drugs that could cause memory loss, and she showed no symptoms of smoke inhalation. Erin’s story was described as “already beginning to unravel” as Charlie was being questioned.

During interrogation, it was described that Charlie Wilkinson said:

• “I’m in a lot of trouble.”
• “No, sir.”
• “I got drunk last night and passed out.”

In the same interrogation narrative, Charlie described Erin calling him and wanting her parents dead, and he described a plan in which Charles Waid would take care of the two boys so no witnesses would be left behind. Charlie provided details of armed entry and the killing of the parents and children, and he described taking a lockbox and valuables and using pocket lighters to set fire to furniture and clothes and bedsheets. He also described that Erin appeared happy and said: “I’m glad that’s over.”

In the sentencing-related narrative that followed, the phone records were described as corroborating a pivotal point in Charlie’s account, including that Erin called him multiple times from inside the Caffey house between 11:46 p.m. and 12:48 a.m., and again between 1:22 a.m. and 1:58 a.m.

Arrest

After the murders and the burning, authorities took Wilkinson, Waid and Johnson into custody roughly three hours later.

Erin Caffey was found hiding inside a trailer belonging to Waid’s older brother and was arrested. She was arrested while she was on the way to visit her father at the hospital.

In the narrative describing the arrest process at the hospital-visit location, Chief Sanders received a call from Fischer informing her that Erin had been implicated and needed to be placed under arrest. Deputy Booth asked: “You want us to do what now?” Sanders later requested that Erin step out of the car. Virginia Daily became hysterical and grabbed Erin’s face, demanding: “Did you have any part in this?” Erin responded: “No, Grandma.”

Trial

Erin was charged as a juvenile and held on charges of capital murder. She appeared before a justice of the peace and declined to meet with the Texas Ranger or Detective Almon, electing to make a written statement instead.

Sergeant Vance commented: “After everything we had heard, I was picturing a monster, for lack of a better word,” and described Erin’s demeanor and size.

Erin’s written statement echoed what she told Chief Sanders, including “There had been smoke and strangers with swords,” and that she could not remember much else.

All four defendants were initially charged with three counts of capital murder.

Sentencing

Erin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 25 years, on January 2, 2009.

The narrative also stated that Wilkinson and Waid were each sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in October 2008.

Johnson and Erin both pleaded guilty to murder. Johnson was sentenced to two 40-year concurrent sentences, and Erin was given two consecutive life sentences, plus 25 years.

Eligibility for parole was described as:

• Johnson: eligible for parole in 24 years.
• Erin: not eligible until she serves roughly 40 years of her sentence.

Another sentencing narrative described that Erin received a lesser sentence than life without parole and accepted a plea deal with two life sentences to be served concurrently, plus an additional 25 years, ensuring eligibility for parole when she is 59.

A defense attorney William McDowell stated: “I think it was a just sentence,” and “Everyone is pleased with it.”

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Erin Caffey pleaded guilty to murder-related capital murder charges and received two consecutive life sentences plus 25 years. She was not eligible for parole until after roughly 40 years of her sentence, and a later narrative described eligibility at age 59.

Wilkinson and Waid pleaded guilty and avoided the death penalty, receiving life in prison without the possibility of parole. Johnson pleaded guilty, receiving two 40-year concurrent sentences.

Aftermath

Terry Caffey described depression after burying his family and that he planned to take his own life. He described planning his suicide, then going back to his property and standing on the ashes and praying. He described finding a burnt scrap piece of paper reading: “I couldn’t understand why you would take my family and leave me behind to struggle along without them. I may never totally understand that part of it, but I do know that you are sovereign. You are in control.”

He said the page was from “Blind Sight,” a novel by Jim Pence. He described forgiving those involved and intervening so the death penalty would be taken off the table.

Terry Caffey addressed co-defendants at sentencing and said:

• “In time, God has shown me what it means to forgive,”
• “Charlie Wilkinson, I want to say to you today, I forgive you. Not so much for your sake, but for my own. I refuse to grow into a bitter old man. If I want to heal and move on, I must find some forgiveness in my heart, and that has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do because you took so much from me.”

Terry Caffey was described as remarried and as a stepfather to two children, and he co-authored a book titled “Terror by Night,” which details the murders of his family and his rise from tragedy.

A two-week speaking tour was described in which Terry began visiting churches and public schools to talk about what he endured.

Erin declined interview requests, and Terry was described as having conversations with her that were initially restricted due to recorded conversations. He later was described as being free to ask her whatever he wants after she pleaded out.

In one narrative, Erin described a version of events in which she was planning on running away but changed her mind, and the phone calls were to dissuade Charlie from coming at all. She told Terry that Charlie wanted the family dead and that when Charlie came to the house, she had been powerless to stop him. Terry said he did not believe she was capable of murder.

Israel Lewis, the mental health counselor who evaluated Erin, said: “God will save me. He knows I’m innocent.” Lewis also said: “I have worked with some good liars, but Erin was one of the best,” and “She seemed totally sincere and genuine, and I would have put my license on the line to say that she was telling me the truth.” Lewis also said he cried every time he left her jail cell, and later said Erin continued to be a mystery and: “You could not have paid her to say anything negative about her parents,” and “I still long for the day when I know what was hurting her bad enough to make such a decision.”

The narrative also included that Erin declined to grant an interview, but other defendants agreed to revisit the early morning of March 1, 2008, with accounts consistent with Erin serving as the driving force behind the killings.

Johnson was described as saying: “Charlie kept saying, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’” “And she said, ‘Why are you asking me this? If you love me, you’ll do it.’” Johnson also said: “I just wanted to go home, but Charlie said it was too late, that I was already involved. He said that if anybody said anything to anyone, that person would be taken care of. I was scared shitless.”

Waid was described as saying: “When we pulled away from the house, she was happier than a kid on Christmas morning.” Waid also said: “They were ridiculous reasons—not even reasons—just an excuse.”

Charlie was described as saying: “If I was sitting on my jury, I would have stuck the needle in my arm,” “And she was given ample opportunity to call off the plan.” “It was her idea.” “If at any time she would have said, ‘Well, we’re not going to do it after all,’ it never would have happened.” “Once you love somebody, you can’t quit,” and “You always will.”

Charlie also said: “I don’t really like to talk about that,” “She needs to have it looked at,” “I would have done anything for her,” “She was very smart. Very caring. I don’t know why she wanted it done, why it had to be like that, but she was a very nice person.” And “I’m in a lot of trouble,” is also quoted earlier in the interrogation narrative.

In the narrative, Erin’s pastor Todd McGahee is quoted: “if he had five more of her, he could fill his church on Sundays.”

Other details

• Bonds were set at $1.5 million for each of the four defendants in the reported arraignment narrative.
• All four were initially charged with three counts of capital murder.
• The narrative describes that prosecutors did not plan to seek the death penalty against Erin Caffey.
• Wilkinson and Waid avoided the death penalty in November by pleading guilty for their involvement in the killings.
• Erin was described as working as a carhop at the Sonic.
• Erin’s later eligibility for parole was described in multiple ways: parole at 59 in one narrative and not until she serves roughly 40 years in the sentencing-status field narrative.
• The narrative includes references to church, including Miracle Faith Baptist Church, and verse “Joshua 24:15” displayed in connection with the Caffey family home.