Benjamin Hilburn Got Mad At Dad, Shot Him In Head With Shotgun

Filed under: Crime, Fratricide, Kids Who Kill, Murder, Shooting 

Belen, New Mexico – The story of any son getting so angry at their father that he would shoot them in the back of the head is tragic enough but this story is compounded by the fact that Benjamin Hilburn was only 10 when he pulled the trigger. Benjamin would state in the 911 call that he was angry at his father, 42-year-old Bryon Hilburn. He would expand on that later, telling investigators he felt his father was too harsh with him and punished him too much. In August police say Benjamin shot his dad in the back of the head with a shotgun while his 6-year-old sister was in the room. Benjamin, now 11 years old, is in the custody of his mother and has been charged with first-degree murder. It is quite possible he is the youngest person to be charged with murder in New Mexico, a state that does not charge anyone under 14 as adults. Continue reading to hear the full 911 call as Benjamin desperately tries to get someone to the house to save his dad. [Read more...]

Virgil Togstad Wasted His Family

Filed under: Crime, Familicide, Fratricide, Murder, Parenticide, Shooting 

Wittman, AZ - On Monday night, Virgil M. Togstad III, 26, called 911 to report that he’d shot his parents and brother in their Arizona home. When police arrived and took him into custody, Togstad looked around, let officers cuff him, and said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have wasted my family.” Well, isn’t that the kind of decision that could have been made prior to the shooting, there, Virgil? [Read more...]

Erin Caffey Had Help: Caffey Family Murdered

Filed under: Arson, Attempted Murder, Familicide, Fratricide, Shooting, Stabbing 

UPDATE 12/11/08 – Erin Caffey’s murder trial has been moved to Hopkins County, Texas, in a change of venue from Rains County.  Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty due to Erin’s age. Jury selection will begin February 2, 2009, with the trial set to start February 9.   Both Charles Allen Waid and Charlie James Wilkinson pled guilty last month to capital murder for their involvement in the killings of Erin’s mother and younger brothers.

Top: The Caffeys, L to R: Mathew, Terry, Tyler, Penny, Erin
Bottom: Charlie Wilkinson, Charles Waid, Bobbi Johnson

Erin Caffey with Charlie Wilkinson

Alba, TX (March 3, 2008) - Erin Caffey, 16, was raised Baptist, and not a little bit Baptist either. Homeschooled until this semester, her parents were maybe stricter than many. Erin’s mother, Penny Caffey, was a member of The Gaston Singers, a small gospel group. Her parents were members of Miracle Faith Baptist Church in Alba. Her little brothers Mathew “Bubba”, 13, and Tyler, 8, played guitar in church. Erin’s father, Terry, had a sign nailed to a tree in front of the home referencing JoshuaJoshua reviews 24:15 – “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Apparently, Erin Caffey disagreed.

Now Erin, Charlie Wilkinson, Charles Allen Waid, and Bobbi Gale Johnson are charged with murdering Penny, Matthew and Tyler Caffey and attempting to murder Terry Caffey early SaturdaySaturday reviews morning. Terry was shot, Penny and Mathew were shot and stabbed, and Tyler was stabbed before the house was set on fire. Only Terry survived. And, of course, Erin. [Read more...]

Shawn Munck Stomps Brother To Death

Filed under: Fratricide, Manslaughter, Negligence 

Broome County, NY – Shawn Munck, 22, was supposed to be caring for his twelve- year-old brother Peter last week while their grandmother was hospitalized for open-heart surgery. But on Tuesday evening the brothers had an altercation, and Shawn Munck stomped on the sixth-grader’s midsection. Sometime later that night, Peter Munck died. [Read more...]