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David WHITSON
Classification: Mass murderer
Characteristics:
Parricide - Tumultuous divorce
Number of victims: 4
Date of murders:
September 13, 1995
Date of arrest:
Same day
Date of birth: 1960
Victims profile: His estranged wife, Laura Whitson, 35, and their three daughters, Sarah, 6, Rachel, 3, and April, 6 months
Method of murder:
Shooting
Location: Scott Mills, Oregon, USA
Status: Sentenced to life in prison. Committed suicide by
hanging himself in his
cell in the Oregon State Penitentiary in June of 1996
4 in Family Are Slain
The New York Times
September 13, 1995
A man who had been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife tracked
her down and killed her and their three daughters, the authorities said
today.
The man, David Whitson of Seattle, was charged with
four counts of aggravated murder in Monday's slayings, said Dale Penn,
the Marion County deputy district attorney. If convicted, Mr. Whitson
could receive the death penalty.
Laura Whitson, 35, was shot to death, along with the
couple's children, Sarah, 6, Rachel, 3, and April, 6 months. Mrs.
Whitson's mother, Margaret Magee, was shot in the arm, Mr. Penn said.
The Whitsons were in the midst of a tumultuous
divorce, Mr. Penn said. Mrs. Whitson had moved from Seattle to live with
her mother and had obtained a restraining order against Mr. Whitson,
saying he had forced her to have sex.
David Whitson hanged himself in his
cell in the Oregon State Penitentiary in June of 1996 while he was
serving a life sentence.
